Naomi Osaka's eye-catching outfits have divided opinion across the tennis world. Wimbledon's strict all-white dress code hasn't reined in the Japanese star, who has stormed into the quarter-finals following her stunning victory over Aryna Sabalenka in the last 16.
Before one match, Osaka strode on court wearing a 'Kill Bill'-inspired kimono, while ahead of another, she opted for a white jacket adorned with floral decoration and a sweeping long train, a look she carried into her victory over world number one Sabalenka, who happens to be an admirer of her rival's bold fashion choices.
Sabalenka Praises Osaka's Style
Speaking at the Australian Open in January, when Osaka turned heads in a jellyfish-style ensemble, the Belarusian described it as "really cool." She said: "You know, what's very beautiful about fashion is that you can express yourself however you want. It's a fairly free world. There's no judgement."
"Some people see fashion one way, others another. That's why it's so beautiful: you can feel free, show who you are, show your personality. I think yesterday, it was perfectly in line with her personality, her culture, many things. It was really cool."
Criticism from Siegemund and Murray
Not everyone shares that sentiment, however, with critics accusing the 28-year-old, who has previously spoken out against media intrusion, of simply courting attention. Jamie Murray remained firmly unconvinced, telling the BBC: "It was like Mary Poppins on... I don't know what she was on, but she's on something. I was like, 'What are you doing?'"
One of her opponents at this year's French Open, Laura Siegemund, delivered a scathing assessment of Osaka, who had arrived wearing a black sequinned dress ahead of their first-round clash. Siegemund told Eurosport: "I couldn't care less. I come here to play tennis, not to put on a fashion show. And if others want to put on a fashion show, then they should go ahead and do it."
She added: "She can have a minute and a half to change. I have a problem with that, because these rules simply exist and they are what they are - every second is now being watched so closely for us. I don't think it's okay and where, once again, bigger names are treated differently."
Keothavong Defends Osaka
Former British number one Anne Keothavong, however, rushed to Osaka's defence. Speaking on TNT Sports, she said: "I love her sense of fun. It's not necessarily my style, but that doesn't matter."
"I love the fact that she has an interest in fashion and she feels confident enough to express herself in that way and I now look forward to her outfits at the Grand Slams. I feel like more players could do that, more brands could get on board and just give players something different to wear. It's a good talking point, it creates headlines, in print and on social. It gets people talking about the sport, about the player, it's win-win. However, saying that, you've also got to be able to deliver on the tennis court and, so far, Naomi Osaka has been able to do that."
Osaka on Her Fashion Inspiration
The Osaka-born star draws her inspiration from her upbringing with a Japanese mother, a Haitian father and a childhood spent largely in Florida. She said: "I feel like my inspiration can be anything. I took a trip to Japan one day [and] then obviously you go to Harajuku [a district of Tokyo famous for fashion], and you see everyone expressing themselves through clothes. I don't really ever have a plan when it comes to clothes. I think it's okay to try something and fail, but I'd rather just try it and see how it goes."
