Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka made another dazzling entry at the French Open on Thursday, but was made to work hard in a 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 victory over Croatian Donna Vekic in the second round.
Osaka’s outfit for her first-round match drew plenty of attention — though it left her opening opponent unimpressed. Germany’s Laura Siegemund, who lost to the four-time Grand Slam champion in straight sets, said she was “not here for a fashion show” after her exit.
Osaka had worn a sequined waistcoat blouse and black mesh train over a layered yellow-brown and gold match dress in the opening round. Despite the criticism, she arrived for the contest with Vekic in a white floor-length flared train over her outfit.
“I like to keep people on their toes. I think it’s really fun,” Osaka said following her second-round victory. “There’s a community that I feel like has been built over my on-court outfits, so I just like to keep you guys guessing. I really enjoy that you guys enjoy it.”
Vekic took a more relaxed view than Siegemund. “It’s good that she’s doing different things, expressing herself through fashion,” she said. “Some people take tennis way too seriously. Relax, it’s just an outfit. It’s not such a big deal. She has the opportunity to do that so why not?”
On another blazing hot day in Paris, Osaka traded breaks freely with Vekic in the opening set on Court Simonne-Mathieu before finding her best form during the tie-break, dropping only one point. She saved a break point in the second set to close out the win in one hour and 50 minutes, reaching the third round for the first time since 2019.
She will next face Iva Jovic after the American beat compatriot Emma Navarro 6-0 6-3 earlier in the day.
Earlier this year at the Australian Open, Osaka walked on wearing a wide-brim hat, a veil and carrying a white parasol.
Source: Osaka advances at French Open while fashion entrances spark debate