See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy JAMES SHARPE Published: 10:30 BST, 28 May 2026 | Updated: 10:44 BST, 28 May 2026
Naomi Osaka refused to back down amid claims she turned the French Open into a ‘fashion show’ as she strode on to court on Thursday morning with a new beige train attached to her ‘Eiffel Tower’ dress.The Japanese star was accused of not coming to Roland Garros ‘to play tennis’ by her first-round opponent after she arrived for her opening match in a flowing black skirt and corset made from her old Nike match outfits before unveiling a shimmering gold dress, which Osaka said she thought looked like the famous French monument at night.German Laura Siegemund declared: ‘I came here to play tennis, not put on a fashion show.’For her second-round clash against Donna Vekic, Osaka instead walked out with a flowing beige skirt attached to the back of her dress and a warm-up jacket that matched her golden dress.She kept the train on for the coin toss before taking it off for warm-up.For her second-round clash against Donna Vekic, Osaka walked out with a flowing beige skirt attached to the back of her dress and a warm-up jacket that matched her dressOsaka's outfit on Tuesday involved a sequined and glittery gold ensemble and a ceremonial black skirt and sleeveless beaded bodice - which she wore walking out on to the court before taking off the latter two items.And while the beaten Siegemund had no issue with the actual outfit design or the result, she expressed some frustration at the time Osaka was awarded to take off her outer garments in comparison to how long players are allowed to do meaningful things during matches.'I couldn't care less,' Siegemund 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 OK and where, once again, bigger names are treated differently.'Speaking about her outfit, Osaka said post-match: 'It's very couture. You know the Eiffel Tower at night when it's sparkly. I kind of think I look like that a little bit.'I don't really feel like it's too much of a big deal to do that and then play after (in terms of making a fashion statement and then playing tennis). 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, like, in show business 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.'The 28-year-old and four-time Grand Slam winner - who wore a jellyfish-inspired dress at the Australian Open in January - added that her only concern was that the glittering dress might be too reflective in the sun. She then doubled down on her statements by posting a picture of her wearing her outift in front of the iconic Parisian landmark on Wednesday.
