Naomi Osaka has been criticised by several tennis figures at the Australian Open
Naomi Osaka has come under fire for “disrespecting” tennis with her bold Australian Open fashion choices. The former two-time Melbourne Park champion turned heads when she turned up for her opening round clash against Antonia Ruzic in a jaw-dropping jellyfish-themed outfit.
The 28-year-old Japanese star made her entrance on Rod Laver Arena sporting a striking green and white patterned dress, complete with a hat, veil and umbrella. It’s since come to light that Osaka teamed up with Nike and London fashion designer Robert Wun to bring the eye-catching look to life. It was inspired by a book she read to her two-year-old daughter which included a picture of a jellyfish.
She said: “Nike let me design this one. It’s modelled after a jellyfish. I’m just so grateful I get to be able to do the things I love. It’s really beautiful.”
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Osaka, who went on to secure a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Ruzic on Tuesday, was applauded by world No. 3 Coco Gauff for “bringing new eyes to the sport” thanks to her fashion. Yet, she was also criticised in brutal fashion by tennis star Jamie Murray and social media personality Eliza Wastcoat.
Murray didn’t hold back on BBC 5 Live Sport, saying: “It was like Mary Poppins on… I don’t know what she was on but she’s on something. For me, I was just like, ‘What are you doing?’”
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Eliza added: “I would agree with Jamie that, for me, I felt like there was an element of disrespect towards the sport of tennis not walking onto the court with your racquets and creating such a show in front of your opponent in a first round, requesting a night match… the reason being to show off your outfit.
“It just takes away from the show which is the tennis and what we’re all here to enjoy. I know she finds joy in fashion but for me, there’s such a rich history between tennis and fashion and there’s so many other elements of it that we could have weaved into an outfit like this and paid respect to.”
Asked whether she appreciated it as a fashion statement, Eliza responded: “No, I didn’t. It kind of looked a bit cheap and a little bit tacky. I don’t think it belonged on a red carpet like a Met Gala and I don’t think it belonged here.”
Osaka has stood by her outlandish outfit choice, posting on Threads in response: “There’s a demographic that’s been talking about ‘traditional’ tennis outfits and calling me classless for what I wear. To be honest, I see it for what it is. I don’t do this for them though – they will never get it and I don’t want them to. I do this for the people that are like me.”
It follows Osaka’s apology for a row over disrespect and a frosty handshake after her second-round victory against Sorana Cirstea on Thursday, where she opted for a more subdued outfit. Her conduct during and after the match notably drew criticism from Jelena Djokovic, Novak Djokovic’s wife, on social media.
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