Naomi Osaka makes history at Roland Garros: for the first time, she advances to the fourth round of the French tournament, marking a turning point in her career and her relationship with tennis.
The Japanese star with four Grand Slam titles left no doubts on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, overcoming the young American Iva Jovic, just 18 years old, by 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-4 in an epic duel that lasted nearly three hours. This match also marked Osaka’s hundredth appearance in Grand Slam tournaments. With this hard-fought victory, Osaka secured a place in the round of 16, where she will face world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a match that promises to be electrifying.
But, in Paris, Osaka stands out not only for her technical quality. Her presence is also marked by the style and irreverence with which she presents herself on the court. This Saturday, the tennis player showcased herself in a shimmering gold dress, under a metallic bomber jacket of the same color, complemented by a bronze train that extended across the clay court, capturing everyone’s attention. This was not the first time Osaka surprised with her look: in previous matches, she had already appeared in ceremonial black skirts and pieces reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower illuminated at night, a reference she herself explained.
“It’s a surprise every time,” Osaka said about her clothing choices. “For me, at this moment, it would be strange to wear normal tennis gear. I want to have fun, I want to make this exciting for myself.” This rebellious and creative spirit emerges after a difficult period in her career, particularly when she withdrew from the French tournament in 2021 due to anxiety and depression issues. “For a long time, I didn’t have fun, and you all know about that period of my life,” the tennis player confessed.
The preparation of her looks is meticulous and refined, with the athlete planning her outfits more than a year and a half in advance, undergoing at least four fittings to ensure the perfect fit. “We have so many fittings because weight can fluctuate or the fabric can change a little,” Osaka explained, highlighting the effort and dedication behind the image she presents.
The weather conditions at the tournament continue to be a challenge, with temperatures reaching 34 degrees Celsius and high humidity, making the athletes’ performance even more demanding. During Osaka’s match, a fan required medical assistance and was taken out of the stadium in an ambulance, underscoring the intense heat being felt in Paris.
In the remaining women’s draw, notable is the victory of the current world number one, Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated Daria Kasatkina 6-0, 7-5, and in the title chase, defending champion Coco Gauff faces the 28th seed Anastasia Potapova. In a controversial duel, Russian Diana Shnaider defeated Ukrainian Oleksandra Oliynykova 7-5, 6-1, in a match marked by strong accusations related to the war between their countries.
In the men’s sector, Felix Auger-Aliassime, the fourth seed, stands out as the main favorite at the top of the draw following the surprising elimination of Jannik Sinner. The young Frenchman Moise Kouame, at just 17 years old, is attempting to become the youngest player to reach the fourth round at Roland Garros since Bjorn Borg in 1973.
Finally, the tournament organizers took important security measures by repositioning the advertising panels behind the line judges, following an incident in which the Turkish Zeynep Sönmez had to withdraw from a doubles match due to a fall caused by one of these panels.
Naomi Osaka returns to Roland Garros not only as a top athlete, but also as a style and resilience icon, ready to challenge the best and make her mark on the Parisian clay. Her journey is creating a new narrative, filled with excitement, fashion, and an indomitable will to win.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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