Naomi Osaka captivated audiences on Wimbledon's opening day with a striking outfit that honored her Japanese heritage while adhering to the tournament's all-white dress code.
The 28-year-old No. 14 seed arrived on court wearing a floor-length ruffled gown reminiscent of a kimono, designed by Tokyo-based designer Hana Yagi.
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The gown featured intricate embroidery of cranes and cherry blossoms, paired with a traditional kanzashi hair ornament.
Osaka explained that Wimbledon's strong emphasis on tradition inspired her to reflect on her own background.
"I think about the most iconic silhouette, which for me is a kimono.
You don't have to see the colour of a kimono to know that it is a kimono," she said.
She also cited a cinematic inspiration: Lucy Liu's character in Kill Bill, who wears an all-white kimono. "I remembered absolutely falling in love with Lucy Liu's character.
She has an all-white kimono, and I remember thinking that was really cool and amazing. Then it just kind of went from there.
It was like my interpretation of that while also paying a lot of respect and love to Japan," Osaka said.
Fashion as Storytelling
Osaka approached the designer directly for this independent project rather than partnering with Nike.
She noted that the extravagant choice sparked curiosity among fellow players and fans, who turned their heads to catch a glimpse during her walk to the court.
"I thought that was really fun," she said, adding that the attention increased the pressure to perform well.
