Naomi Osaka drew immediate attention at Roland Garros with a gold Nike outfit that echoed the glow of the Eiffel Tower at night. The four-time Grand Slam champion paired the sparkling look with a strong first-round victory over Germany’s Laura Siegemund, turning her French Open return into both a fashion moment and a statement win.
Osaka entered Court Suzanne-Lenglen in a black corset and matching pleated skirt layered over the sequined dress. The design stood out in the Paris sunshine and reinforced why she remains one of tennis’s most recognizable style figures.
A look built around Paris and couture
Osaka said the outfit was meant to reflect both France and the couture culture she loves. After her 6-3, 7-6(3) win, she described the dress as “very couture” and compared its shine to “the Eiffel Tower at night when it’s like sparkly.”
She also explained that the idea came with a clear creative purpose. Osaka said she wanted to “talk through my clothes,” adding that fashion gives her a way to express herself more loudly through color, patterns and fabric.
The Japanese star said the design process was shaped by the challenge of following the impact of her previous major fashion moments. She said finding a designer who understood her style was not difficult once the Paris setting and the goal of a distinctive court look came together.
Kevin Germanier’s sustainable touch
Osaka’s designer was Kevin Germanier, a Swiss-born designer known for sustainable fashion and upcycled materials. His approach fit Osaka’s interest in combining performance wear with a more artistic presentation.
That focus helped create a pre-match outfit that drew widespread attention before a ball was struck. Osaka has also attracted notice for her style at the US Open, the Australian Open and the Met Gala, keeping fashion as a visible part of her public image.
Support on and off the court
The look also earned praise from world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who watched Osaka’s entrance live on TNT Sports. Sabalenka said she loved that Osaka was “expressing herself” and felt confident, adding that there is “space for anything” in fashion and that Osaka was bringing that energy onto the court.
Osaka herself said she values the legacy of dramatic tennis reveals, pointing to Serena and Venus Williams as major influences from her childhood. She said she hopes younger fans can connect with her outfits in the same way she once connected with theirs.
A concern about the glare
For all the praise, Osaka admitted there was one practical issue with the dress. She said she worried the reflected sunlight could cause problems during play and joked that she feared the umpire might ask her to leave the court.
According to the Associated Press, Osaka said she brought two backup normal Nike dresses just in case the sparkle became too distracting. That concern never interfered with the result, as she moved through the match in straight sets.
The tennis goal remains unchanged
Siegemund was less enthusiastic about the spectacle, dismissing it as a “fashion show” and saying she had come to play tennis. Osaka’s focus, however, remained on the tournament itself, where she is still chasing a deeper run in Paris.
The second-round challenge now comes against Donna Vekić, the 2024 Olympic singles silver medalist. Osaka is also trying to reach the French Open’s fourth round for the first time in her career, keeping the spotlight on her performance as much as on the outfit that made her entrance one of the most talked-about moments of the opening round.
Read more at: www.cnn.com