OSAKA LEADS FASHION STATEMENTS AT WIMBLEDON WITH ELABORATE WALK-ON FITS

Naomi Osaka wore an ornate outfit featuring frills, a bustle, oversized bows and extended sleeves to court at Wimbledon this week, designed by Hana Yagi and inspired by Japanese ceremonial dress and Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill. The ensemble conformed to Wimbledon's all-white dress code but was considered sufficiently high-fashion to debut in Vogue before appearing on court. Other players have adopted the trend: Frances Tiafoe performed a surprise reveal by removing his trousers to display his shorts underneath during his walk-on moment.

Osaka previously drew attention at the Australian Open in January for wearing an experimental design with mega-pleats based on a jellyfish's appearance. Designer Marty Harper, who worked on Osaka's outfits, suggested the custom-made looks worn for minutes before matches might function as "armour" and "power" for the wearer. Sunita Kumar Nair, author of the new book Ace: The Times & Style of Tennis, stated these garments "can obviously intimidate the opponent", drawing a parallel to how animals enlarge their bodies or colouring to deter predators. Sports psychologist Claire-Marie Roberts said wearing such outfits improves self-confidence, which she described as "the single biggest predictor of your ability to attain your goals".

However, player Coco Gauff said the psychological impact of opponents' outfits was minimal in her experience. She stated: "Once the match starts, I'm focused on the game and playing the best tennis I can. There are so many things happening on court that an outfit isn't something I'm paying attention to for very long." Walk-on fits also serve as photo opportunities for players to showcase brands they work with.