Kimono, Comeback, Centre Court: Why Naomi Osaka refuses to fit in

Four Grand Slams. Former World No. 1. Fashion icon. Mental health advocate. New mom. As Naomi Osaka chases her debut Wimbledon title, she continues to redefine what it means to be a tennis superstar in a performative era.Irrespective of Osaka’s match status against Karolina Muchovatoday, it is safe to say that she has already won (yet,again!) the fashion game with her stylish appearance in a custom white, kimono-inspired gown. The upcycled, ceremonial-style garment that is said to have been inspired by traditional shiromuku bridal robes and Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Kill Bill’ movies, has been created by Tokyo-based designer Hana Yagi.

It featured embroidered cranes and cherry blossoms, symbols synonymous with Japanese culture. https://x.com/Wimbledon/status/2073809925403242700

Sunday Special: Mother’s Recipe

Osaka’s stunning Sunday performance where she knocked out world number one Aryna Sabalenka to reach the quarter-finals was a lesson in perseverance and grit. The Japanese-American, who struggled to get back in form after she returned from maternity leave in 2025, said in Sunday’s post-match interview that it was “a long time since I've had so much fun on the court, so to do it here means a lot."

And guess whom did she credit for her on-court performance?Apart from thanking her coaching team and her mindset, she also gave a shout-out to her mum's Japanese cooking."My mum is over there, she cooks a lot and I feel like her cooking is powering me so I would really appreciate another meal tonight! She cooks a bunch of Japanese food, so shout out to Japanese food,” Osaka was quoted as saying.

Runway Reign

The paparazzi had a field day snapping the player in her Wimbledon ensemble.

But for Osaka it wasn't just a style motif but a cultural statement. Osaka later explained that the kimono represented the most iconic Japanese silhouette she could think of. She also acknowledged inspiration from Lucy Liu's unforgettable O-Ren Ishii in 'Kill Bill' that wove cinema, sport and cultural memory into one visual narrative. For Osaka, fashion and clothing is beyond branding - it is biography. From the Australian Open to the French Open, and the Met Gala, her appearances have revealed an athlete who is authentic in her style and serious about the way she looks, and plays.

It has also served as a reminder that she has never been merely another tennis celebrity.

Met-eoric Moves

Earlier this year in May at the Met Gala in New York, Osaka’s appearance grabbed headlines as she made quite a memorable entry in a 9kg Robert Wun couture gown in response to the Met’s "fashion is art" theme.https://x.com/enews/status/2051444468117844412 Osaka was not just another celebrity in Anna Wintour’s creme de la creme gathering. Her presence was more than a detour as she stunned the red carpet, landing in a massive white sculptural hat and an open-seam coat adorned with blood-red feathers, then revealing a skintight, blood-red Swarovski-crystal gown underneath, with claw-inspired sheer gloves, adding drama and aesthetic to the composition.

Fashionably On Point

At the Australian Open 2026, she elevated her Grand Slam look with a jellyfish-inspired outfit which made waves on day three of the Australian Open. The champion made heads turn with her dramatic entrance on Rod Laver Arena in an ocean blue, tie-dye tracksuit jacket with white wide-leg bottoms dress that she dedicated to her daughter Shai.The 28-year-old entrepreneur-investor revealed her outfit was originally inspired by a jellyfish, which she saw in a book while reading to her two-year-old daughter, Shai.https://youtu.be/ekTPFRTvwd8?si=4U7c01PWIZtR1E51

Mind Matters

Whether in fashion or her other life choices, the four-time Grand Slam champion has been known to be authentic, speaking her heart out in all that matters. Choosing to be non-conformist, Osaka has not shied away from speaking out (about her mental health) and stepping away (from the game) to focus on herself, that got her a lot of flak. Following her victory at the Australian Open in 2021, Osaka announced she would skip mandatory press conferences at the French Open.

She cited anxiety and concerns about her mental well-being, bringing up the “mental health among athletes” trope into public discussion for the first time. Consequently, she was slapped with fines, criticism and eventually withdrew from the clay tournament.

Soon after, Osaka revealed that she had experienced long bouts of depression since winning her first Grand Slam in 2018 when she had defeated Serena Williams in the unforgettable and emotionally charged US Open final, becoming the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam singles title.

For the sporting establishment, such candid admission of (workplace) stress was an exception, leading many to question her professionalism.But, Osaka, known for her explosive and most feared serve that regularly crosses 190 kmph, and clean ball-striking, had set a shift in motion. While she wasn't the first athlete to struggle emotionally, she was among the first global tennis influencers to insist that the M-word (mental health) deserved equal seriousness as a torn ligament or an injured shoulder.

Maternal Instinct

In July 2023, Osaka welcomed daughter Shai with her longtime partner, rapper Cordae (they later split in 2025). She took a 15-month maternity leave from professional tennis, returned to the WTA Tour at the Brisbane International in January 2024 and steadily climbed back to re-enter the Top 20 by the end of 2025.

As Osaka returned to the game, she looked at life on court from the lens of a new mother, speaking openly about how becoming a parent had changed her relationship with tennis.

Performance still mattered - just that there was now someone waiting beyond the court who mattered infinitely more than a scoreboard.

The Authenticity Code

Comfortable with contradiction, Osaka has always been difficult to categorise. In an increasingly performative world, she understands that identity isn't confined to game-set-match; and has refused to be boxed into a template of what a modern tennis superstar is meant to follow. An introvert by nature, her language of expression has been amplified by her unique fashion choices. A four-time Grand Slam winner and one of the world's highest-paid (net worth approx $45 mn) female athletes, she has been openly critical of the pressures that come with celebritydom. Soft-spoken, and yet a fierce force on court who remains unapologetic about her choices and her candour, Naomi Osaka has reimagined the rules of the game, and how it is to be played.