Naomi Osaka reveals the secrets of her outfits for the French Open.

Naomi Osaka is back in the spotlight, but this time not for her achievements on the court, but rather for the colossal amount of time Nike spends creating her outfits for the Roland Garros. The Japanese tennis player revealed that the design of her clothing for the French tournament takes at least a year and a half, a meticulous process that involves at least four fitting sessions over that period.

At 28 years old, Osaka has made headlines not only for her talent but also for the bold outfits she showcases before each match. After securing her place in the round of 16 with a convincing victory over Iva Jovic, the champion spoke candidly about her collaboration with Nike. “Honestly, I love that you asked me this question,” she confessed. “I have many meetings with Nike, and I think people don’t realize the effort and time that goes into each outfit. They plan everything at least a year and a half in advance, and we do several fittings because our bodies can change or the fabric can be altered.”

However, not everyone shares the admiration for Osaka’s style. Her first-round opponent, Laura Siegemund, did not hesitate to criticize the attention given to fashion in tennis. “For me, this is tennis, not a fashion show,” she said to TNT Sports. “If others want to put on a show, fine, I don’t mind. But what shocks me is that there are strict rules for everything in our sport, including the time we have to do simple things like open a water bottle. She can take a minute and a half to change clothes, and that doesn’t seem fair to me. The rules apply to everyone and must be followed; there can’t be special treatment for the bigger names.”

The debate over the rigidity of the rules versus the preferential treatment of tennis stars is underway, especially at a time when every second is scrutinized in detail on the professional circuit.

Regarding the immediate future, Osaka is now preparing to face Aryna Sabalenka in a decisive match for the round of 16. When asked about her strategy for this match, the Japanese player displayed a relaxed yet focused demeanor: “I’m not really sure, I like to live in the moment. I think I played well in Madrid, I just dropped a bit in the second and third sets. I’ll try to maintain consistency and be aggressive. Whatever happens, happens.”

With an aggressive playing style and a presence that leaves no one indifferent, Naomi Osaka continues to be one of the most controversial and fascinating figures in world tennis, both on and off the court. The Roland Garros promises much more from this rising star, who excels both on the courts and in fashion.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.