As if the temperatures in Paris weren’t high enough, Naomi Osaka set Stade Roland Garros on fire with her show-stopping entry. The former World No. 1 walked out on Court Suzanne Lenglen in a dazzling all-black look for her first French Open match against Laura Siegemund.
The couture ensemble quickly blew up on the internet, prompting Osaka to clarify the details of the design.
Naomi Osaka Gets the Nod from Tennis Community After French Open Entry
Taking inspiration from the likes of Venus and Serena Williams, Osaka is determined to carry forward tennis’ fashion legacy. The Japanese star, known for her reserved demeanor, believes in expressing herself through her clothes.
After making a splash at this year’s MET Gala, Osaka built up the anticipation for her “couture” ensemble at the French Open. The moment finally arrived on Tuesday, when fans witnessed the player emerge on the red dirt wearing an intricately embellished corset top. She paired it with a semi-sheer pleated skirt, both custom pieces designed by Swiss couturier Kevin Germanier.
Underneath was her actual match outfit, a gold sequined two-tier peplum top, paired with a matching skirt. After noticing that her grand entry had gone viral, Osaka explained the important distinction between the black and gold layers of her ensemble. She confirmed that her apparel sponsor, Nike, was responsible for the actual match kit, while Germanier designed her black overlay from her past competition gear.
“Just clarifying because I feel it’s important to note. Nike is the one who makes my match dresses/kits; those have never been a collaboration. The designers work around pre-existing designs. S/o Nike,” she wrote on Threads.
Osaka further elaborated on the designing process during her TNT Sports appearance after winning her opener.
“I’m pretty fortunate Nike lets me submit my sketches. So that’s a really fun process with them, and shout out to Nike for just sticking with me. You know, once you get to the bigger scale and you start collaborating with designers on top of the Nike stuff, that’s when it gets into a big conversation,” she said.
“Luckily, everyone that I’ve collaborated with so far are so kind and they invite me into their process as well,” Osaka added.
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The 28-year-old also triggered a buzz in Melbourne after walking out on court with an umbrella and a jellyfish-inspired dress. While Nike designs Osaka’s outfits exclusively for her, the Australian Open was the first time her outfit was made available for purchase.
Explaining the match-wearability of her outfits, Osaka said, “It’s not as intricate. For example, Australian Open and here, I just need to be able to snap the stuff (overlay) off. That’s the only clause that I tell them (the designers) about.”
“And then with Nike, they are the ones that care a lot about the performance. I’m the one that says, ‘Hey, guys, I just want it to look really cool.’ So they kind of put a stop to me at some moments,” she said.
MORE: Osaka’s Dramatic Entrance: All About Her Outfit, Veil, Umbrella at Australian Open
Osaka literally and figuratively shone through during her opening French Open match against Laura Siegemund. She secured a 6-3, 7-6(3) win to advance to Thursday’s second round, where she faces Donna Vekić.
