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Naomi Osaka’s outfit in her first-round French Open match attracted plenty of attention – but didn’t impress her opponent.
Germany’s Laura Sigmund said she was “not here at a fashion show” after crashing out of the tournament with a straight sets loss to the four-time Grand Slam champion.
Osaka walked onto Court Suzanne-Lenglen in a formal black skirt and sleeveless beaded bodice which she removed to reveal a sequined gold sports dress for her opening match in Paris.
“I couldn’t care less,” Sigmund said in a post-match interview.
“I come here to play tennis, not to do a fashion show. And if others want to do a fashion show, they should go ahead and do it. That’s totally fine with me.”
Sigmund bemoans stars being ‘treated differently’
World number 47 Siegmund also took issue with the amount of time Osaka was allowed to change before the start of play.
“I found something else problematic. In our sport, in every tournament they count every second, until you take off your water bottle,” he said.
“But he might have a minute and a half to change. I have a problem with that, because these rules just exist and that’s what they are – every second is being watched so closely for us now.
“And I also think that with a performance like this, every second should count. That’s the only rule that I don’t think is right and where, again, big names are treated differently.”
At the beginning of this year, the Japanese star made quite an impression at the Australian Open
At the Australian Open earlier this year, Osaka wore a wide-brimmed hat, a veil and carried a white parasol.
And at last year’s US Open, she topped off her red dress with bright red roses in her ponytail and even a matching doll she named Billie Jean Bling.
So how did Osaka change its focus from its grand entrance to playing tennis matches minutes later?
“I’m a little used to it now,” he said. “The US Open, the roses in my hair, that’s when I really started to get more into it. Obviously with Australia, it was a real conversation starter. So I don’t really think it’s a big deal to do that and then play.
“Athletes are in show business,” Osaka added. “The Grand Slam walk-on is the only time I probably think I’m an entertainer.”
Osaka had other concerns, however. “I was actually a little worried, because when the sun hits the dress, it reflects a lot. So I was a little afraid that the umpire would kick me off the court,” he said. “So I had two back-up normal Nike outfits.”
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