Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Paris: Naomi Osaka’s taste for fashion was in the spotlight again on Tuesday at Roland-Garros.
The tennis star walked onto Court Suzanne-Lenglen in a ceremonial black skirt and sleeveless beaded bodice, which she removed to reveal a sequined gold playing dress for her opening match in Paris.
“It’s very couture,” Osaka said of her dress after the match. “You know the Eiffel Tower at night when it’s sparkly. I kind of think I look like that a little bit.”
Osaka entered wearing the embellished bodice structured to recall armour, and a long pleated skirt over her playing attire. She then removed the over-garments and went on to beat German opponent Laura Siegemund 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).
“I’m a little used to it now,” she said.
“The US Open, the roses in my hair, that’s when I started to really get into it a lot more. Obviously with Australia, that was a real conversation starter. So I don’t really feel like it’s too much of a big deal to do that and then play after.
“Athletes are in show business.
“Grand slam walk-ons are the only time that I possibly feel like I’m an entertainer.”
Osaka had other concerns, though.
“I actually got a little worried because when the sun hits the dress, it reflects a lot. So I was a little scared that the umpire was going to kick me off the court,” she said.
“So I [had] two back-up normal Nike dresses.”
Osaka said on Saturday before the tournament started that she enjoys fashion since “I don’t talk a lot, so that way I can talk through my clothes.”
She added, “I am a little dramatic when it comes to my fashion sense.”
Earlier on Tuesday on Court Philippe-Chatrier, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka wore two necklaces featuring diamonds during her opening win.
Sabalenka looked light on her feet in a 6-4, 6-2 win against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
“Diamonds, I don’t really feel the heaviness, but I can imagine how it looks from the outside,” said Sabalenka, the tournament runner-up last year to Coco Gauff.
“So I feel pretty comfortable. For me, it’s important to look good.”
The four-time major winner was initially going to wear three necklaces but said she thought that might be too much.
“It probably sounds a bit crazy, but when I feel good about what I’m wearing, how I look on court, I tend to perform much better,” Sabalenka said.
“I like to bring a little bit of a fashion on the tennis court.
“I know the dress that I will wear on the grand slam, and I just try to come up with something to match the outfit.”
Sabalenka said she wasn’t worried about protecting her jewellery when she’s off the court.
“I have my fiance. He’s kind of like my security,” she said, smiling. “My physio does jujitsu, so I feel pretty secure walking around. If I go somewhere, I don’t go alone.”
Gauff, meanwhile, had to deal with a last-minute wardrobe change after the American was involved in a car accident on the way to Roland-Garros for the first match of her title defence. She did not appear injured.
“We got in a mini car accident on my way to the site today,” Gauff told TNT Sports with a laugh after beating fellow American Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-0.
“We ran into a [pole]. You felt a little impact. I spilled my juice all over the car.
“And then right before I went onto court, my dress got stuck, so my physio was in the bathroom trying to help me take it off.
“It was an eventful day. But I feel like whenever that happens, it lets you not think about the match too much. I’m just happy to be here in one piece.”
