Naomi Osaka made a striking entrance onto Court 3 for her first-round Wimbledon match on Monday, wearing a full-length, all-white kimono. The four-time Grand Slam champion defeated Elsa Jacquemot 6-1, 7-5 in her opening match.
Osaka, known for her distinctive fashion choices on court, stated that her Wimbledon attire was inspired by her Japanese heritage and Lucy Liu's character in the movie "Kill Bill." "When I think about that, I think about my cultures, my heritage, which is Japanese and Haitian," Osaka explained during her post-match press conference. "Then if I dive deeper into Japanese culture, I think about the most iconic silhouette, which for me is a kimono."
She further elaborated on the "Kill Bill" influence, noting, "[Lucy Liu’s character] has an all-white kimono, and I remember thinking that was really cool and amazing."
The strict all-white dress code at Wimbledon did not present a challenge for Osaka's design. "I’ve never thought of the color white as restrictive…there’s so many different patterns, fabrics, textures that you can use. So I’ve never even thought of it as something that restricts me," she added.
Wimbledon's dress code is notably precise, with detailed specifications for color. The tournament recently relaxed its rules to allow women to wear non-white undershorts.
This is not the first time Osaka has used a major tournament as a platform for fashion statements. At the French Open earlier in the year, she showcased cascading overskirts reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower, paired with corsets and Nike dresses. Earlier in January, at the Australian Open, her outfit was inspired by jellyfish and included a wide-brimmed hat and a parasol.
Osaka is scheduled to play Anastasia Gasanova in the second round on Wednesday morning on Court 2.