Tennis star Naomi Osaka made a dramatic fashion statement at the Australian Open 2026 on Tuesday, arriving on court with a wide-brim hat, long veil and white parasol ahead of her first-round win at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

What did Naomi Osaka say about her outfit during the Australian Open?

The two-time Australian Open champion defeated Antonia Ruzic in a three-set battle, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, completing the win in two hours and 22 minutes. Osaka revealed that a jellyfish inspired her outfit and that her hat, adorned with a butterfly, symbolically represents the last time she went on a title run in Melbourne, Al Jazeera reported.

“It [the butterfly] has to do with the Australian Open I won in 2021, which I guess is a long time ago,” the 28-year-old said in her on-court interview after the match, according to the outlet.

Osaka said she draws fashion inspiration from other tennis legends

Naomi also stated that she had to give herself a pep talk before the match, to make sure that, no matter what happened, she remained focused.

“When I was playing today, I just told myself, like, ‘Keep your head on the path. If she beats you, then that’s unfortunate. But, hey, at least you’re trending,” on social media, she said, per The Associated Press.

Osaka was born in Japan and grew up in the United States. Throughout her professional career, she has drawn inspiration from other tennis legends, including Venus and Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, calling them the “G.O.A.T.’s of style,” per The Associated Press.

She said Nike, her clothing sponsor, allowed her to design the outfit herself. Her first-round outfit, which featured shades of blue and green, paid tribute to her daughter, Shai, and her fascination with jellyfish and butterflies.

‘Really amazing coincidence’

Osaka added that her ensemble mirrored the remodeled tunnel at Rod Laver Arena, which reflects Australia’s coastal themes.

“Honestly it came together quite beautifully because I didn’t know what to expect when I arrived here,” Osaka said, per The Associated Press. “Then it just felt like everywhere I looked the theme was water. Obviously the walkout was like you see oceans and waves. I thought that it was really beautiful. Really amazing coincidence.”

Osaka will face Sorana Cirstea in the second round after her first-round win.