Naomi Osaka turned heads at the French Open on Thursday with a gold dress inspired by the Eiffel Tower.
The Japanese tennis star wore the custom Nike outfit during her second-round victory over Donna Vekic, winning 7-6, 6-4.
The 28-year-old's ensemble featured a glinting dress and matching gold jacket.
It followed a first-round look that included a black corset and a floor-length train made from her previous court attire.
Osaka addressed the public discussion about her tournament wardrobe on social media after the match. "You don't take these types of risks," she posted.
Her opponent Vekic supported the fashion statements, saying self-expression adds variety to the sport. "I think it's good that she's doing different things, expressing herself through fashion.
Whether it's good or bad, that's a different thing, it's fashion," Vekic said.
The Croatian player added that wardrobe choices should not overshadow the game. "It's just something different.
Some people take tennis way too seriously. Relax, it's just an outfit.
It's not such a big deal. She has the opportunity to do that, so why not," Vekic said.
Criticism from First-Round Opponent
First-round opponent Laura Siegemund raised objections about scheduling and player treatment after losing to Osaka on Wednesday.
"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.
That's totally fine with me," Siegemund told TNT Sports.
Siegemund argued that official time constraints are applied unevenly.
"In our sport, at every tournament they count every second, right up until you've unpacked your water bottle.
But she can have a minute-and-a-half to change," she said.
The German player called for stricter adherence to rules for all participants.
"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," Siegemund said.
She highlighted a perceived disparity in how high-profile athletes are managed. "And I also think that with performances like these, every second should be accounted for.
That's the only thing regarding the rules that I don't think is OK and where, once again, bigger names are treated differently," she noted.
Osaka remains the only player with custom Nike apparel, which included a backup outfit in case the reflective sequins impaired her opponent's vision during the sunny match.
