Naomi Osaka. Photo: AFP
The outfit was created by Tokyo-based designer Hana Yagi, according to Reuters. The kimono, embroidered with cranes and cherry blossoms, was made from recycled materials—vintage kimonos, a traditional shiromuku wedding gown, and elements of an antique wedding dress. The look was complemented by a traditional Japanese kanzashi hairpin.
Before the match began, Osaka changed out of her ceremonial attire into her playing outfit, but it was her spectacular entrance that became one of the most talked-about topics of the tournament’s opening days. Fans had their phones ready in advance to capture the athlete’s entrance, and one spectator greeted her with a shout of “C’mon, queen!”
BBC commentator and former tennis player Alicia Molik admitted that the buzz surrounding Osaka’s appearance at Wimbledon was almost as intense as the anticipation for the match itself.
And the result on the court was no less impressive. The Japanese player defeated Elsa Jacquemot 6-1, 7-5 and advanced to the second round of the tournament.
After the match, Osaka explained that she wanted not only to highlight her Japanese heritage but also to pay homage to one of her favorite films, Quentin Tarantino’s *Kill Bill*. According to the tennis player, her inspiration came from the character O-Ren Ishii, played by Lucy Liu.
“My Japanese roots mean a lot to me. At Wimbledon, everything has to be white, and I thought it would be great to step onto the court in a kimono,” Osaka said. In an interview with British Vogue, she also noted that she sees fashion as a way to tell stories, and every time she steps onto the court as an opportunity to share a new creative idea with her fans.
In the second round of Wimbledon, Osaka will face Russian tennis player Anastasia Gasanova.
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