Osaka 'Pays Love and Respect to Japan' in Wimbledon Kimono

Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, made a striking entrance at the All England Club for her first match at Wimbledon, wearing an elegant full-length kimono entirely in white to comply with the tournament's strict dress code. After her 6-1, 7-5 victory over French player Elsa Jacquemot, Osaka explained her inspiration: "When I think about Wimbledon, it's obviously the all white. There's obviously the tradition of it all. In my head, I think about my cultures, my heritage, which is Japanese and Haitian. Then, if I dive deeper into Japanese culture, I think about the most iconic silhouette, which for me is a kimono." She also cited the film 'Kill Bill' and Lucy Liu's character's all-white kimono as an influence. Because Osaka played on an outside court, she had to walk through the crowds, drawing attention from fans who turned to look. Osaka said she found it fun and that people commented on the beauty of the kimono. When asked if she would wear it for other matches, she said she likes to "shake things up." She noted that such outfits add pressure because she wants to perform well to continue wearing them. Next up for Osaka is Russian Anastasia Gasanova.