Naomi Osaka’s extravagant Wimbledon outfits have divided opinion, drawing both a lot of criticism and praise, but one thing remains clear: the unconventional attire is not negatively affecting her tennis. The Japanese star cruised past Anastasia Gasanova 6-3 6-2 in the second round to equal her best-ever result at the Championships.
Never getting over this ✨#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/79BKNa1o0a
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) July 1, 2026
For her second match at Wimbledon 2026, Osaka unveiled another distinctive outfit, just as unusual for tennis as her opening-day look.
“It’s supposed to be an obi. Which is part of the Japanese traditional kimono. I just wore it with my Nike bomber jacket which I thought was really cool. I wasn’t able to wear it the first day. I’m just trying to mix it up a little bit,” the 28-year-old explained.
Social media has been split over Osaka’s kimono-inspired style enhanced with a dramatic floor-length train. While many admired the bold walk-on look, others were far less impressed.
“Absolutely cuckoo!” one person wrote on Tennis Channel’s Facebook page.
Another suggested the outfit was impractical, commenting: “Only herself to blame when she trips and breaks something.”
Naomi Osaka match fit, second round edition 💫#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/rSc9ZjjK7S
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2026
Some felt Osaka should keep the focus on her game rather than her fashion choices. “Why she feels she has to parade herself like this is sooo sad. Let her tennis do the talking. Perhaps she feels it’s the only way she will get noticed,” one commenter wrote.
Others questioned the contrast between Osaka’s struggles with anxiety and her willingness to embrace the spotlight. “Strange that she suffers from severe anxiety and doesn’t like the attention and then comes out wearing this,” another fan remarked.
Not everyone was critical, however. Some pointed out that the four-time Grand Slam champion continues to thrive commercially regardless of the backlash. “She’s laughing all the way to the bank with her endorsements!” one supporter wrote.
Others simply loved the creativity of her latest look. “OMG!! Shut the front door!! This girl brings it with her styles. This one tops the cake with me. Love it,” another fan commented.
So far, there is no indication that Osaka’s fashion choices and that type of spotlight are hampering her performance. The former world No. 1 was in control throughout her second-round win over Gasanova, not facing a single break point in a 68-minute victory. With the result, she has equaled her best Wimbledon run by reaching the third round, matching her previous efforts in 2017, 2018, and 2025.
Wimbledon remains the only Grand Slam where Osaka has yet to reach the fourth round. To do so, she will need to overcome Daria Kasatkina, who battled past Janice Tjen in three sets in another second-round match on Wednesday.
