Naomi Osaka’s Kimono-Inspired Wimbledon Outfit Captivates Fans
One of the most eagerly awaited moments on the opening day of Wimbledon was the reveal of Naomi Osaka’s on-court attire.
The Japanese tennis star, known for her distinctive style, faced curiosity about how her outfit would align with Wimbledon’s strict dress code and traditional values.
Osaka, aged 28, entered the court to enthusiastic cheers wearing a floor-length ruffled gown inspired by traditional Japanese ceremonial dress, notably adhering to the tournament’s all-white requirement.
The dress featured embroidery of cranes and cherry blossoms and was designed in collaboration with Tokyo-based designer Hana Yagi. Complementing the outfit, Osaka wore a traditional kanzashi hair ornament.
Addressing reporters, Osaka explained that Wimbledon’s focus on tradition motivated her to explore her cultural heritage.
“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 an unexpected inspiration for her look:
“I remembered absolutely falling in love with Lucy Liu’s character [in Kill Bill]. 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 further shared that wearing extravagant outfits is a personal passion and that she approached the designer independently, not through her sponsor Nike. Her choice sparked many questions among fellow players in the locker room, and she noticed fans turning fully to admire her as she walked onto the court.
“I thought that was really fun,” she said, acknowledging that the attention increased the pressure not to “wear a ball gown and drop out in the first round.”
Speaking to British Vogue, Osaka elaborated on her approach to fashion:
“I like to use fashion as a medium for storytelling. Every walk-out is an opportunity to bring people into my creative world. The fact that people care about it and are excited to see what’s next is also pretty cool.”
Seeded 14th, Osaka changed out of her long gown before competing against France’s Elsa Jacquemot, donning a Nike dress decorated with flowers. This outfit, featuring seven 3D flowers with bejewelled centres, sold out within hours of its release last week.
Wimbledon Officials Respond to Osaka’s Fashion Choices
Earlier, Sally Bolton, chief executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), was questioned about Osaka’s bold walk-on attire. She expressed no concerns.
“We’re very relaxed so long as it meets the all-white dress code,”
she said.
British Players Face Early Exits on Opening Day
The tournament’s first day was disappointing for British players. Top British talents Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper withdrew due to injuries.
The other six British players competing—Mika Stojsavjlevic, Alicia Dudeney, Max Basing, Harriet Dart, Cam Norrie, Mimi Xu, and Oliver Tarvet—were all eliminated in their first-round matches.
Thousands Queue Early for Wimbledon Tickets
By 8:30 a.m. on the opening day, approximately 10,000 spectators had already queued for Wimbledon, with some fans having joined the line as early as Saturday morning.
Bolton noted the queue’s growing popularity, attributing it to improved travel options that reduce reliance on the London Underground.
“We are advising people if they haven’t already set off to travel, not to travel because the queue is effectively full,”
she said.
“I think back to that period post-Covid where we were somewhat nervous that the queue might die, and, ironically, the queue has become increasingly popular over that period of time.
“But also, the way people travel and engage with things has also changed. For those of you that have queued, you will know that the time you used to have to arrive was the first tube into Southfields. But now with the availability of Lime, and other available branded bikes, people can get to the queue much more easily from slightly further away rather than waiting for the first tubes.”
Fans interviewed by said they researched social media for advice on when to arrive to secure their place, and that the long wait was part of the enjoyment.
Daria Wenger, who drove from Beckenham in southeast London, joined the queue at 2 a.m. on Monday and camped overnight with her husband and son.
“The weather was kind to us, not raining, not too hot,”
she said.
“It takes time, but it’s fun. It’s additional entertainment.”
Lily and Kai Cheng flew in from New York, arriving at 6 p.m. on Sunday. After consulting ChatGPT for advice, they booked an Uber to arrive at 5 a.m.
“There were already 5000 people ahead of us,”
Lily said.
“We’re New Yorkers. We don’t like standing in queues for too long, but this has been so pleasant. It’s so organised.”
The couple are avid tennis fans and had long wished to attend Wimbledon.
“Wimbledon is more fair for people who really want to watch tennis. The US Open is about who has the most money, who can pay the highest price for that little ticket,”
Kai said.
Meanwhile, Renee Sang and Joshua Sodergren traveled by Uber from Crystal Palace, southeast London, arriving at 4 a.m. and obtaining ground passes just before noon.
“I feel like this is the most orderly queue,”
Sang remarked.
“It’s just very well structured. I thought we’d be roughing it more, but there’s bathrooms.”
The pair used social media to plan their visit, arriving half an hour earlier than planned based on Reddit advice. Their only disappointment was missing a player who withdrew on Sunday due to a leg injury.
Nino Bianco, 44, from Luton, left his hotel by Uber at 4 a.m. after missing out on tickets two years prior.
“I just love the experience. The queue is like a ritual to get you into the mood,”
he said.
Hannah Stuart and Rosie McGahn, both 26, arrived at 7 p.m. on Sunday to camp overnight after consulting TikTok for tips.
They were assigned number 2,200 in the queue and pitched a tent for the night.
“We got pizza and had a nice little time,”
Stuart said. They were woken by stewards at 5 a.m. and rejoined the queue.
Wimbledon Adapts Queue Management Amid Growing Popularity
Bolton, who will step down after the Championships, stated that the club is adjusting queue operations due to its increasing popularity.
“We’ve got amazing matches, the sun is shining, you know all of those ingredients to make it so popular, but [the queue] is such an important part of what we do, so we’ll do everything we can to protect it.
“People are getting there earlier and earlier because they recognise that the dynamics of travel have changed a little bit so you do have to now get here really quite early to be at the front of the queue.”
