Naomi Osaka tones down the jellyfish but Wimbledon entrances help soothe nerves

The contrast between her fashion choices and naturally reserved personality has become a fascinating subplot

Naomi Osaka’s on-court entrances have become almost as anticipated as her first serve. Two days after turning heads in a sculptural kimono-inspired creation embroidered with cranes and cherry blossom for her 2026 Wimbledon opener, the four-time grand slam champion dressed to command attention again.

The sweeping layers had been toned down – replaced by a cleaner silhouette featuring a traditional sash, a flowing train and a bomber jacket embroidered with flowers – but the effect was the same with photographers and fans crowding around her during the five-minute walk to No 2 Court on Wednesday.

Moments later, Osaka peeled away the outfit and quietly dismantled the Russian qualifier Anastasia Gasanova 6-3, 6-2 in just over an hour.

The contrast between Osaka’s fashion choices and her naturally reserved personality has become a fascinating subplot as she continues her rise back up the rankings since giving birth to her daughter in 2023.

Off court she openly admits to being shy, even revealing that she mutes text conversations because she cannot cope with waiting for replies. Yet she repeatedly places herself at the centre of attention with increasingly elaborate walk-on outfits.

“It’s funny,” Osaka said. “I do feel a little bit of nerves [stepping on to the court]. I want to make myself so used to that feeling that it doesn’t bother me any more. And fashion helps.

“The Australian Open was me throwing myself head first into it with the umbrella and the hat and everything,” Osaka said, referring to her jellyfish-inspired outfit in Melbourne earlier this year. “Ever since then, I’ve been pretty chill about it. We’ve been a little bit tamer.”

While her opening-round ensemble paid tribute to the traditional embroidered Japanese kimono and a kanzashi hair ornament, Osaka’s second-round look was more restrained. “It is an Obi, which is part of a traditional Japanese kimono,” Osaka said about the wide, decorative sash around her waist. “I wore it with my Nike bomber jacket which I thought was a really cool contrast. I wasn’t able to wear that the first day so I’m just trying to mix it up a little bit.”

Speaking after her opening-round victory, Osaka said Wimbledon’s customs prompted her to celebrate her heritage. “When I think about Wimbledon, it’s obviously the all-white [dress regulations]. It’s the oldest slam. There’s the tradition of it all. In my head, when I think about that, I think about my cultures, which is Japanese and Haitian.”

And after her win over Gasanova, which set up a third-round match against Australia’s Daria Kasatkina, Osaka explained that her fashion choices are rooted in one of Tokyo’s vibrant neighbourhoods famous for its colourful street style and role in shaping kawaii culture.

“I grew up in Florida … then I took a trip to Japan one day. You go to Harajuku and you see everyone expressing themselves through clothes. It was just so cool and colourful. That stuck out to me a lot. I use that in my fashion experimentation.”

Osaka, like any athlete who dares to do things differently, has attracted her share of criticism over her fashion choices. Some fans would rather the focus stay on the tennis, while opponents have questioned whether the walk-ons are a distraction.

The world No 14, however, is encouraged to see more players embracing their own style, describing Taylor Fritz’s Hugo Boss suit from his opening match – which was reminiscent of Roger Federer’s 2007 Wimbledon look – as “pretty cool”.

Despite the theatrical entrances, Osaka insists there is no grand master plan. “I don’t really ever have a plan when it comes to clothes. I think it’s OK to try something and fail, but I’d rather just try it and see how it goes.”

The willingness to experiment says as much about Osaka’s personality as anything she does with a racket, but it certainly has not distracted from her tennis. Against Gasanova, Osaka looked increasingly comfortable on grass, striking cleanly from the baseline and dictating points with the authority that once made her the world No 1.

The straight-sets victory sent her into the Wimbledon third round for the fourth time, which continued an encouraging return to form but will not be the only cause of celebration in the Osaka camp.

“Tomorrow is my daughter’s birthday and I just wanted to be here for longer. I didn’t want to make her get on a plane on her birthday … Obviously I have to practise in the morning [tomorrow], but maybe after [we will] go around the park. She loves making friends.”