Naomi Osaka has been criticised for her outfit at the French Open by her opponent, Laura Siegemund.
The Japanese tennis star came out wearing an Eiffel Tower-inspired dress and arrived with a black flowing gown made from old outfits she had worn on the court.
When asked about Osaka’s outfit, Siegemund said: “I couldn’t care less,” as she hit out at her opponent.
“I come here to play tennis, not to put on a fashion show. And if others want to put on a fashion show, then they should go ahead and do it. That’s totally fine with me,” she told TNT Sports.
Naomi Osaka has been criticised for her outfit at the French Open
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Her opponent said: ‘I come here to play tennis, not to put on a fashion show’
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She continued: “I find something else problematic. In our sport, at every tournament they count every second, right up until you’ve unpacked your water bottle.
“But she can have a minute-and-a-half to change. I have a problem with that, because these rules simply exist and they are what they are – every second is now being watched so closely for us.
“And I also think that with performances like these, every second should be accounted for.
“That’s the only thing regarding the rules that I don’t think is okay and where, once again, bigger names are treated differently.”
Laura Siegemund explained that she felt the big names get treated differently
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Osaka is the only player to receive custom outfits from Nike
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Osaka is the only player to receive custom outfits from Nike, with the tennis star insisting that her fashion choice was not a key talking point.
She said: “I don’t really feel like it’s too much of a big deal to do that and then play after.
“I could see where people would think I feel a little stressed or whatever. I think that’s kind of the thing about it.
“Like sometimes people say athletes are, like, in show business or entertainers or whatever. I feel like for me, grand slam walk-ons are the only time that I possibly feel like I’m an entertainer.”
Osaka won the game 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) to reach the second round
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Osaka’s entrance to the clay court has drawn plaudits from other professionals, including world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
She said: “This is sparkling. I love it. I love that she is expressing herself and feels confident.
“That’s the beauty of the fashion world, there’s space for anything, and I love that she’s bringing it on court.”
Sabalenka praised Osaka for her bold fashion choice
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Osaka made light of the dress afterwards, joking that she did “look like the Eiffel Tower at night time when it’s bright”.
The Japanese said: “I actually got a little worried because when the sun hits the dress, it reflects a lot, so I was a little scared the umpire was going to kick me off the court.
“I got two back-up, normal dresses – thankfully I didn’t have to wear them.”
