Naomi Osaka debuts at Wimbledon with a look inspired by "Kill Bill"; look
Tennis player Naomi Osaka, 28, stole the show (or the courts) once again by daring her game look. In her first match at Wimbledon, which debuted the main rounds this Monday (29), the tennis player wore a custom-made white outfit, inspired by Japanese ceremonial clothing.
The look is a collaboration between Osaka and Tokyo-based designer Hana Yagi to create the Grand Slam debut piece. The costume had details of embroidered herons on white fabric and cherry blossom designs. The Nike set she wore under her kimono was adorned with a kanzashi (traditional Japanese hair ornament) and jewelry from the Japanese brand Mikimoto.
"I like to use fashion as a medium to tell stories," Osaka told British Vogue of her statement entrances. "Every step on the court 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 really cool."
The use of the traditionally inspired piece is a stance in view of the strict rules imposed by the Wimbledon regulations on athletes' clothing. The use of white pieces has been mandatory since 1963. It was only in 2023 that players were allowed to wear protective shorts under dark-colored skirts. Osaka's look confronts traditional expectations with adapted and unusual pieces.
Naomi Osaka debuts at Wimbledon in an outfit inspired by Japanese ceremonial clothing - Robert Prange/Getty Images
The outfit also references elements of pop culture
In an interview after the match, the tennis player revealed that the outfit also took visual inspiration from a pop culture classic: the film "Kill Bill", by Quentin Tarantino. "I was thinking about my favorite movies. I love *Kill Bill* and I remembered how I fell in love with Lucy Liu's character; she wears an all-white kimono. I remember thinking that was really cool and incredible," she said, according to Reuters and WTA Tennis.
She explained that the tournament's dress code and attire were in its own origin. Naomi Osaka's daughter has Japanese nationality. The tennis player is the daughter of a Japanese mother and a Haitian father, she was born in Japan, but lived and trained in the United States throughout her sporting life. She often highlights her roots through her expression in fashion.
"There's the whole issue of tradition; when I think about that and I reflect on my culture and my heritage - Japanese and Asian - and I dive deeper into Japanese culture, I think about the most iconic silhouette, which for me is the kimono," she said. On Instagram, she also referenced Liu's character, O-Ren Ishii, in the caption of photos of her outfit, quoting one of her lines. "Silly bunny," she wrote.
She recently wowed audiences in a glittering gold outfit, revealed beneath an all-black layer, at Roland Garros 2026. Additionally, her jellyfish-inspired look at the Australian Open and color-shifting leopard print ensemble at the BNP Paribas Open are among the most memorable looks of the 2026 season.
Naomi Osaka beat German Laura Siegemund in her debut at Roland Garros; Japanese tennis player stole the show with a customized look - Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
In 2024, Osaka used the anime "Sailor Moon" as a major aesthetic reference in notable Grand Slam games of the season. For the game against Jeļena Ostapenko, she chose a lime green and white look, with a giant bow on her back. While modern tennis outfits are typically streamlined, Osaka's short skirt was draped thanks to a tulle petticoat.
Tennis player chose to wear clothes inspired by female characters from Japanese anime and manga to take the court - Getty Images
*With information from Cris Schwambach, from CNN Brasil in São Paulo.
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Source: CNN