Naomi Osaka // Foto Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
The 28-year-old four-time Grand Slam champion appeared on court Suzanne-Lenglen in a black training kit, which then changed to a bright game dress, writes euronews. According to the athlete, the outfit was created by Nike with the participation of couturier Kevin Germaniere and was conceived as a combination of sports uniforms and high fashion.
“It’s a very couture thing. When the Eiffel Tower shines at night – I had about that feeling,” Osaka said after the match. She added that coming out at Grand Slam tournaments remains the only time she feels like an artist, not just an athlete.
However, the spectacular image caused mixed reactions on social networks. Some fans and commentators called the outfit too theatrical for the tennis court and said that it violated traditions. Others, on the contrary, saw in it an attempt to expand the boundaries of sports aesthetics and norms in women’s tennis.
Osaka herself admitted that she was even worried about the possible reaction of the judges: the shiny fabric, she said, reflected the light strongly. The athlete had more standardized sets of uniforms in reserve in case of a ban.
The controversy surrounding the outfit is embedded in the broader history of women’s tennis, where dress code issues have repeatedly been the subject of controversy, from Serena Williams’ jumpsuit at the US Open to the strict uniform requirements at Wimbledon.
Former British number one Annabel Croft said such looks require a player to be not only confident but also play consistently. According to her, Osaka is coping with that.
The controversy surrounding the gold dress showed once again that in professional sports, the line between functionality, tradition and self-expression remains a hotly debated issue – especially when it comes to women’s uniforms and the publicity of female athletes.
Naomi Osaka
