- Former world No. 1 Boris Becker criticised Naomi Osaka’s theatrical Australian Open walk-on as a “contradiction.”
- Osaka wore a jellyfish-inspired green-and-white outfit with a hat, veil and parasol before her first-round win.
- Osaka says the look reflects a split between her on-court persona and private self; she beat Antonia Ruzic in three sets.
- World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka praised Osaka’s style, while Becker warned the spotlight should stay on sport.
Becker questions Osaka’s attention-grabbing entrance
Naomi Osaka’s theatrical entrance at the Australian Open drew sharp commentary from former world No. 1 Boris Becker, who described the jellyfish-inspired outfit as “a contradiction.” The four-time Grand Slam champion strode onto Rod Laver Arena in a flowing green-and-white ensemble with a white hat, veil and parasol ahead of her first-round match.
‘Iconic’ but conflicting, says Becker
Speaking as a TNT Sports pundit, Becker acknowledged the moment was “already iconic” and that no other player had dared such a look. But he said the spectacle seemed at odds with Osaka’s past decisions to step back from media attention. “On the one hand, she doesn’t want to be under so much pressure… and then she comes onto centre court in an outfit like that,” Becker said. He added that the focus should remain on the sport and noted Osaka had previously taken a mental-health break.
Osaka defends the showmanship
Osaka, who beat Antonia Ruzic 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, said her entrance is part of what makes playing enjoyable. She explained that her on-court self is different from the quieter person in the locker room: “When I step on the court, I’m not the me that you’re talking to right now… I almost feel like I’m a Barbie that dresses up and goes on the court.”
Fashion as joy, not pressure
Asked whether the attention from her outfit increased pressure to win, Osaka shrugged it off. “I realise I’m a little strange because I don’t really think I care. I just feel like I want to do things that create joy and happiness.” She added light-heartedly that if she lost at least she might “be trending on Twitter.”
Reaction from peers
Not everyone saw the look as problematic. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka praised Osaka’s outfit as a perfect fit for her personality and culture, admitting she felt a twinge of envy and hoping to try something equally bold in future tournaments.
Context: Osaka’s history with media and mental health
Osaka’s relationship with the media has been under scrutiny since she withdrew from the 2021 French Open after declining press conferences and citing mental-health concerns. Becker referenced that episode when urging players—and the public—to prioritise the sport itself over off-court spectacle.
For now, Osaka’s fashion-forward entrance has reignited discussion about the intersection of sport, self-expression and media attention. Her on-court performance, however, remains the final arbiter: she advanced to the next round after a tight three-set win.
Image Referance: https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/47678995/naomi-osaka-flamboyant-entry-was-contradiction-boris-becker