Naomi Osaka of Japan (AP Photo) LONDON: Court No. 2 sits at one end of the All England Club, a few hundred metres from the players’ facilities. For Naomi Osaka, that simply meant a longer runway. The four-time Grand Slam champion arrived on Wednesday in a downsized kimono-inspired look, accessorised with an obi that trailed behind her as she walked.
On a day when her tennis proved every bit as sharp as her fashion, Osaka powered past world No. 225 Anastasia Gasanova, firing eight aces in a 6-3, 6-2 win to reach the third round at Wimbledon. The 28-year-old Japanese will now bid for a place in the last-16 of the Championships when she faces Australia’s Daria Kasatkina on Friday.
After the toss, Osaka unclipped the obi before shrugging off her floral-applique bomber jacket to reveal an intricately crafted tennis dress with a curved, micro-pleated hem. It was the latest chapter in her Wimbledon wardrobe after she arrived for her first-round match on Monday in an elaborately designed kimono embroidered with cranes and cherry blossoms.
The thing about fashion is that while it can turn heads, it cannot move the scoreboard. And significantly, it creates expectations. In tennis, a bold statement can draw as much scrutiny as admiration, and players are judged as readily for daring to stand out as they are for what they wear. As Osaka walked past the crowd for her first-round match, she could hear the “wows” through her headphones.
The 28-year-old may not be consumed by doubt, but she is not immune to the noise from the locker room and beyond. Whatever story she chooses to tell through fashion is ultimately amplified by her tennis. Every walk-on is a fashion show until the first ball is struck. After that, the outfit disappears and only the tennis remains. Osaka’s unique style on and off court continues to captivate fans globally.