Naomi Osaka reminds us that tennis and fashion have always been inseparable
Naomi Osaka made a stunning entrance on the court at Roland Garros last week. Literally stunning, in a bronze Nike creation full of large and small sequins, complete with a dramatic peplum train that was more reminiscent of a red carpet than Parisian clay. Of course, the train disappeared just before warming up, leaving a slightly more modest match outfit behind.
Not everyone appreciated it. Her German opponent Laura Siegemund stated afterwards that she “couldn’t care less” what Osaka wore and that she “came here to play tennis, not to put on a fashion show.” But for Osaka, fashion has never been a side issue. The Japanese tennis star previously graced the cover of Vogue Japan and appeared at the Australian Open in a spectacular outfit by designer Robert Wun, inspired by a jellyfish.
However, Osaka is certainly not the first tennis player to turn the court into a catwalk. The history of the sport is full of players who made just as much of an impression with their outfits as with their forehand.
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The original tennis fashionista
It is impossible to talk about tennis and fashion without mentioning the name Serena Williams. She has been bringing fashion to the courts since the 1990s. First through her sponsorship contract with Puma, later with Nike. For example, she warmed up during Wimbledon 2013 in a white Nike blazer that was more business casual than sports outfit. A year later, she wore a pink leopard print at a tournament. In stark contrast, she wore a black dress with silver details. On its own, not very striking, were it not for the black knee-high tennis shoes she wore underneath. And who can forget the tutu she wore when she stepped onto the court in 2018? Or the black-pink-red Nike unitard with one long and one short leg? It would never occur to Serena Williams that she looked like the more playful player on the other side of the net, something that is certainly not uncommon in tennis.
Especially not in her iconic (yes, that word has been used quite liberally lately, but in this case, it is completely justified) denim outfit that Williams showed up in at the US Open in 2004. She wore a pleated denim skirt to maintain a bit of tennis feel and paired it with a black crop top. For that outfit alone, she should have received a trophy.
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These women also played
Osaka and Williams are of course not the only players who turned tennis into a fashion show. Billie Jean King and Chris Evert appeared on the court in fully white lace outfits in the early 1970s. Maria Sharapova wore an outfit inspired by a corset during the 2008 US Open, proving that sportswear doesn’t have to look sporty. And then there’s Anna Kournikova. The woman who perhaps became just as famous for her pink diamond engagement ring as for her tennis. One of her most memorable outfits is a sunflower yellow top combined with a low-cut white mini short and a perfectly matching yellow belt. That’s early 2000s for you. Venus Williams also deserves a spot on this list. Serena's older sister once appeared in a dress that looked like it came straight out of Moulin Rouge: black lace combined with red corset details.
The men also made an attempt
The men were also present, although they made it a bit less extravagant. Roger Federer, for example, once showed up at Wimbledon in a white military jacket with gold embroidery. Underneath, he wore a classic waistcoat, making the whole look more like a three-piece suit than a tennis outfit. A few years later, he appeared in all black, while the music of Darth Vader echoed through the speakers. The nickname Dark Federer was ripe for the picking. Rafael Nadal could also hold his own; during his debut at the French Open, he wore a green sleeveless top with white capris underneath. He already knew what the Pinterest girls would like now.
The strictest dress code ever
With Wimbledon approaching, fashion and tennis lovers are once again on the edge of their seats. Not only because of the matches, but also because of the infamous clothing regulations of the tournament. Players are required to appear in white from head to toe. No cream, no off-white, and no ivory; bright white. Even logos and color accents are strictly enforced, and may only be allowed if they are under the 10mm limit. Nick Kyrgios found that out the hard way. The Australian appeared with an official Wimbledon headband, featuring the tournament's traditional green and purple colors. The umpire put a stop to that, and he had to wear the headband inside out. Yes, really. Even a sweatband from the Wimbledon shop turned out not to be Wimbledon-proof enough.
Where Laura Siegemund might prefer to only look at the scoreboard, countless players prove that fashion and tennis cannot be separated. Soon we will be watching the aces, rallies, and trophies during Wimbledon, but especially the outfits. And when Naomi Osaka steps onto the grass of London (with all the rules that entails), we not only want to know how many sets she wins, but especially: what she is wearing. And who designed it.
