Some athletes show up at a tournament. And then there is Naomi Osaka, who arrives.
On Court Suzanne-Lenglen this Tuesday, she walked out in a black corset and a cascading pleated skirt that skimmed the red clay, a ceremonial entrance look that had nothing to do with sportswear and everything to do with intention. Underneath it, waiting: a gold sequined Nike dress that caught the Parisian sunshine and held it there.
The entrance look was designed by Swiss designer Kevin Germanier, a deliberate pairing that placed couture craft directly in conversation with athletic performance. The structured bodice read almost like armour. The long skirt is theatrical. Together, they felt like a considered tribute to the city hosting her – not costume, but conversation.
Osaka explained it with the kind of casual confidence that makes you believe her completely: “I feel like it was a nod to France and also couture, which is something that I really love.” And then the line that landed best: “You know the Eiffel Tower at night when it’s like sparkly? I kind of think I look like that a little bit.” She’s not wrong.
What makes her fashion choices consistently compelling isn’t the spectacle. It’s the personal logic behind each one. From a jellyfish-inspired entrance at the Australian Open earlier this year to this gilded Roland Garros moment, there’s always a reference point, always something being said. The clothes aren’t accessories to the tennis; they’re the other half of how she shows up.
What also stood out was the silhouette itself. The black outer layer had volume and movement, but the actual playing dress stayed functional. The sequins added drama without making the look feel heavy or restrictive. It still looked athletic. Just elevated.
Parisian, and entirely intentional. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka praised Osaka for bringing fashion to the court in the way she does, which feels like the right read. Osaka has quietly shifted what arriving at a Grand Slam can look like.
“I talk through my clothes,” she said earlier this week, and you could tell she meant it.
