Key Takeaways
- Naomi Osaka debuted a striking two‑part outfit at the 2024 French Open: a black corset and pleated skirt over a sparkling gold Nike dress inspired by the Eiffel Tower at night.
- The look was designed by Swiss sustainable‑fashion label Kevin Germanier, reflecting Osaka’s habit of using clothing as a form of self‑expression.
- Osaka won her first‑round match against Laura Siegemund in straight sets (6‑3, 7‑6 [3]) and will face Donna Vekić in the second round.
- World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka praised Osaka for bringing confidence and creativity to the court, while Siegemund dismissed the outfit as a “fashion show” unrelated to tennis.
- Osaka expressed concern that the dress’s reflective sequins might distract the umpire, prompting her to bring two backup Nike dresses.
- The outfit continues Osaka’s pattern of using high‑profile events (US Open, Australian Open, Met Gala) to showcase her personal style and support sustainable designers.
Naomi Osaka made a memorable entrance at Court Suzanne‑Lenglen for her French Open debut, turning heads before she even struck a ball. She walked out wearing a black corset paired with a pleated, cascading skirt that skimmed the iconic red clay. Beneath that base layer shone a custom Nike tennis dress that glittered with sequins and caught the Parisian sunshine. Osaka later revealed that the dress’s design was directly inspired by the Eiffel Tower’s nightly sparkle, describing the ensemble as “very couture” and a deliberate nod to France’s fashion heritage.
The gold dress was not an off‑the‑rack Nike product but a collaboration with Kevin Germanier, a Swiss‑born designer celebrated for his sustainable approach and use of upcycled materials. Osaka explained that she prefers to let her clothing do the talking, saying, “I don’t talk a lot, so that way I can talk through my clothes. That means I can be as loud with colors or patterns or fabric as I want.” She traced this philosophy back to her childhood, recalling the iconic on‑court outfits of Serena and Venus Williams, which she could still identify by year from a single photograph. Osaka hopes her bold choices inspire others who feel similarly about using fashion as a voice.
After securing a straight‑sets victory over Germany’s Laura Sie gemund—6‑3, 7‑6 (3)—Osaka addressed the media on court. She admitted a moment of practical concern: the dress’s reflective sequins caught the sunlight intensely, leading her to worry that the umpire might mistake the glare for a hindrance and ask her to leave the court. As a precaution, she had brought two standard Nike dresses as backups, though she never needed to switch. The outfit’s visual impact was immediate; viewers watching live on TNT Sports noted the gleam, and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka lauded Osaka’s confidence. Sabalenka remarked, “I love it. I love that she’s expressing herself. She feels confident, and that’s the beauty of the fashion world. There’s space for anything, and I love that she’s bringing it on court.”
Not everyone shared the enthusiasm. Siegemund, Osaka’s defeated opponent, brushed off the spectacle, telling TNT Sports, “I couldn’t care less. 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.” Her comment underscored the ongoing debate in tennis about the balance between athletic performance and personal expression, a conversation that has flared periodically as players push sartorial boundaries.
Despite the chatter surrounding her attire, Osaka’s primary objective at Roland Garros remains competitive success. The four‑time Grand Slam champion is aiming to surpass her previous best at the French Open—reaching the fourth round—for the first time in her career. Having navigated the opening round, she now prepares to face 2024 Olympic singles silver medalist Donna Vekić in the second round on Thursday. A victory would mark Osaka’s deepest run at the tournament to date and could bolster her confidence as she continues to blend high‑fashion statements with elite tennis performance on the sport’s biggest stages.