In brief
In her opening match at Wimbledon, Naomi Osaka wore an elegant, full‑length white kimono at All‑England Club, respecting the tournament’s all‑white rule while celebrating Japanese culture. The gesture followed her history of striking outfits at previous Grand Slams, such as the glittering gold dress at French Open and a jellyfish‑inspired look at Australian Open. Osaka explained her inspiration came from classic Japanese silhouettes and the film character Lucy Liu’s kimono from "Kill Bill". The crowd reaction was immediate, with many fans turning to admire the style. Osaka kept the kimono for the rest of her first‑round victory, giving a confidence that blended heritage with Wimbledon tradition.
Naomi Osaka’s kimono debut at Wimbledon
Osaka’s arrival at All‑England Club for her first‑round match was a moment of cultural homage, with the former world No.1 sporting an all‑white, full‑length kimono that honored Japanese heritage while complying with Wimbledon’s strict dress code.
The colour‑flat garment followed Osaka’s history of eye‑catching outfits— a glittering gold dress at the 2025 French Open likened to “the Eiffel Tower at night” and a jellyfish‑inspired look at the 2025 Australian Open.See the French Open dress. The kimono pays tribute to the iconic Japanese silhouette, a nod that Osaka described as rising “from my head to the most iconic silhouette, which for me is a kimono.”
Following her 6‑1 7‑5 win over French player Elsa Jacquemot, Osaka said the kimono demonstrated her love for Japan while keeping Wimbledon’s tradition intact: “When I think about Wimbledon, it’s obviously all‑white.” She added that fans had commented on the garment, and she enjoyed the attention.
“I try to lock in a little bit and wear my headphones. I could feel when I walked by someone, they’d physically turn their whole body.” “It was cool because I heard some people say, Wow, that’s a really beautiful kimono.”
Osaka also noted that wearing outfits like the kimono can add pressure, as looking famous could spark expectations on the court. She promised to “shake things up” in future matches, meanwhile keeping the boot‑pride in higher tiers as her daughter’s birth reshaped her career trajectory. Osaka has returned to the world’s top 20 and even reached the semi‑finals at last year’s US Open.
With the next match against Russian Anastasia Gasanova, Osaka keeps her heritage on display while preparing for the next round of the marathon tournament.
