'I come here to play tennis, not to put on a fashion show' - Naomi Osaka criticised over French Open outfit

Naomi Osaka arrived at the French Open in a flowing black gown inspired by the Eiffel Tower, made by Kevin Germanier using upcycled materials from previous tennis outfits she had worn. After Osaka won her first-round match 6-3, 7-6(3), Laura Siegemund criticized the outfit and the time allowances around it. Siegemund said she did not care about fashion but found it problematic that Osaka received a minute-and-a-half to change while the sport counts every second until players have unpacked their water bottle. She also claimed that performances like Osaka’s should have every second accounted for and suggested bigger names are treated differently. Additional stoppages occurred when the gown had to be collected and removed from the court bench area.

"“I couldn't care less,” she told TNT Sports. “I come here to play tennis, not to put on a fashion show. And if others want to put on a fashion show, then they should go ahead and do it. That's totally fine with me. “I find something else problematic. In our sport, at every tournament they count every second, right up until you've unpacked your water bottle. But she can have a minute-and-a-half to change. I have a problem with that, because these rules simply exist and they are what they are - every second is now being watched so closely for us.”"

"“And I also think that with performances like these, every second should be accounted for. That's the only thing regarding the rules that I don't think is okay and where, once again, bigger names are treated differently.”"

"Just as she did with a jellyfish ensemble at the Australian Open at the start of the year, Osaka arrived in catwalk style with a flowing black gown made by Kevin Germanier, a designer known for upcycling. Her waistcoat and black floor-length train were made from previous tennis outfits she had worn on the court."

"There was also an additional stoppage where the black gown had to be collected by someone and taken off the court because it was taking up too much space on the player bench."

Read at Irish Independent