PARIS — Naomi Osaka defeated Laura Siegemund 6-3, 7-6 (3) in the first round of the 2026 French Open on May 26, 2026, on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. Before the match began, Osaka wore a ceremonial black skirt and sleeveless beaded bodice during her walk-on, which she removed to reveal a sequined gold playing dress.

Osaka described her on-court look as “It’s very couture.” She told reporters 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.” She said the gold playing dress was designed by Nike, while the outer ceremonial pieces were created by Swiss designer Kevin Germanier.

“Athletes are in show business. Grand Slam walk-ons are the only time that I possibly feel like I’m an entertainer,” Osaka said. She added that she enjoys using fashion as a form of expression since “I don’t talk a lot, so that way I can talk through my clothes.” Osaka also noted, “I am a little dramatic when it comes to my fashion sense.”

She admitted she had concerns about the dress’s reflectivity during play. “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,” Osaka said. “So I (had) two back-up normal Nike dresses.”

Germanier said he wanted Osaka’s walk-on outfit to “feel romantic yet strong, reflecting Naomi’s energy and the emotion of playing on such an iconic stage.” The ceremonial bodice was structured to recall armor, and Germanier created the look by deconstructing her past competition gear, including using the internal lining of one of her jackets to make a semi-sheer pleated skirt.

Osaka’s 2026 French Open playing outfit featured a light brown skirt with a ruffly, two-tiered peplum and vertical rows of gold sequins of various sizes. The four-time Grand Slam champion has made fashion a consistent part of her Grand Slam entrances, including a jellyfish-inspired ensemble at the 2026 Australian Open featuring swishy white pleated pants, a colorful tie-dye top with flowing tendrils, a wide-brim hat, a veil, and a white parasol.