Naomi Osaka turned heads at the French Open on Monday with a striking gold dress that she said made her feel like the Eiffel Tower at night. The four-time Grand Slam champion wore the sequined and beaded Nike dress for her opening match on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, having first arrived in a black skirt and sleeveless beaded bodice designed by Kevin Germanier.
Osaka beat Germany's Laura Siegemund 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) to reach the second round. After the match, she joked that she had feared the umpire might make her change because the dress reflected so much sunlight. “I got two back-up, normal dresses. Thankfully, I didn’t have to wear them,” she said.
The 26-year-old described herself as “a little dramatic when it comes to my fashion sense” and explained that she uses clothing to express herself. “I am not a very talkative person, so I talk through my clothes,” Osaka said. Earlier this year at the Australian Open, she walked on court in a jellyfish-inspired outfit with a wide-brimmed white hat and parasol.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka, who also won her first-round match, watched Osaka’s entrance on television and praised the outfit. “This is sparkling. I love it. I love that she is expressing herself and feels confident,” Sabalenka said. “That’s the beauty of the fashion world, there’s space for anything and I love that she’s bringing it on court.”
