06/29/26 10:30:00
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06/29 10:28 CDT Naomi Osaka wows Wimbledon crowd with latest fashion creation,
a Japanese-inspired robe
Naomi Osaka wows Wimbledon crowd with latest fashion creation, a
Japanese-inspired robe
By MATTIAS KARN
Associated Press
LONDON (AP) --- Wimbledon's strict rules about all-white clothing didn't
prevent Naomi Osaka from making another fashion statement as she walked onto
the grass at the All England Club on Monday.
Osaka, who has made a habit of creating a buzz with her creative outfits at
recent Grand Slam tournaments, wore a flowing kimono-like robe with swinging
sleeves and elaborate embroidery as she walked onto No. 3 Court for her
first-round match against Elsa Jacquemot.
The Japanese player's latest creation drew a rave reaction from the crowd, many
of whom were eagerly waiting with their phones aloft to record her entrance.
One female fan shouted "C'mon queen!" as Osaka walked out.
"It's something that we've been waiting for all day, right, what Naomi Osaka is
going to appear in at Wimbledon," said Alicia Molik, the former top-10 ranked
player who is doing commentary for the BBC. "A bit of inspiration from,
perhaps, a bygone era as well."
Osaka kept her robe on as she bounced on her toes at the net while listening to
instructions from the chair umpire. She then removed it and placed it on her
chair to begin warmups before the match started.
The four-time Grand Slam champion's fashion creations have become so eagerly
anticipated that Osaka faced plenty of questions before the tournament about
how she would handle the all-white rule at the All England Club.
"Literally everyone keeps asking me that and I've never thought of the color
white being a restriction," Osaka said Sunday. "I feel like there's so many
different patterns, fabrics, textures that you can use."
And use them, she did.
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AP Sports Writer Ken Maguire contributed to this report.
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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
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