Wimbledon 2026: Japan's Naomi Osaka aces it in a kimono

One of the most anticipated moments of Wimbledon 2026 came right at the start of the tournament when Japanese star Naomi Osaka donned an all-white kimono late on Monday night as she arrived on the court to loud cheers.

The dress, created alongside Tokyo-based designer Hana Yagi, was embroidered with cranes and cherry blossoms. She also wore a traditional kanzashi hair ornament.

The four-time Grand Slam champion told reporters that Wimbledon's emphasis on tradition had inspired her to reflect on her cultural heritage.


"The most iconic silhouette for me is a kimono. You don't have to see the colour of one to know that it is a kimono," she said.

She also shared the inspiration behind her outfit.

"I remember falling in love with Lucy Liu's character (in Kill Bill). She has an all-white kimono. That was really cool and amazing. Then it just kind of went from there. It was like my interpretation of that while also paying a lot of respect and love to Japan," she said.

Osaka made another fashion statement on the court by defeating France's Elsa Jacquemot 6-1, 7-5 to advance to the second round, where she will face Russia's Anastasia Gasanova on Wednesday.