Naomi Osaka's beaten opponent Laura Siegemund hits out at 'fashion show' after Japanese star's bold outfit choice for French Open clash

Osaka made a statement with a catwalk-like entrance at the Australian Open earlier this year as she wore a jellyfish-inspired outfit.

She followed that up with another striking ensemble at the French Open, entering the court with a sequined waistcoat ​blouse and a black mesh floor-length train.

For the first-round match she wore ⁠a glittering gold dress with sequins on. Osaka backed up the bold outfit choice with a strong display to beat unseeded Laura Siegemund 6-3 7-6(3).

But while much of the focus afterwards was on another fashion statement from Osaka, Siegemund made clear that she did not care for it at all.

”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.”

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka had a different view on Osaka’s outfit.

Sabalenka was on the TNT Sports desk when Osaka walked out to the court and said: ”This is sparkling. I love it.

”I love that she is expressing herself and feels confident. That's the beauty of the fashion world, there's space for anything and I love that she's bringing it on court."

Sabalenka also had a nod to fashion as she wore two thick diamond necklaces in her 6-4 6-2 win against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

Sabalenka said she had planned to wear three necklaces but decided that would be too much.

However, she said that for her it is ”important to look good.” 

”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,” she said. 

”I like to bring a little bit of 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.”

Osaka said she did not feel any added pressure due to her bold outfit choice.

”I don't really feel like it's too much of a big deal to do that and then play after. I could see where people would think I feel a little stressed or whatever.

”I think that's kind of the thing about it. Like sometimes people say athletes are in showbusiness or entertainers or whatever. I feel like for me, Grand Slam walk-ons are the only time that I possibly feel like I'm an entertainer.”

Osaka, who faces Donna Vekic in the second round, added that her only concern was that the glittering dress might be too reflective in the sun.

"When I first saw it, I felt like I look like the Eiffel Tower at nighttime when it's bright," she said.

"Then I actually got a little worried because when the sun hits the dress, it reflects a lot, so I was a little scared the umpire was going to kick me off the court.

"I got two back-up, normal dresses - thankfully I didn't have to wear them."

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