Naomi Osaka turns heads in Japanese-inspired tennis outfit for opening of Wimbledon Championships

Naomi Osaka is known for her adventurous and fashionable tennis outfits, with her latest look at the Wimbledon Championships perhaps one of her most eye-catching statements yet.

The 28-year-old Japanese tennis star arrived on court in style ahead of her match against Elsa Jacquemot of France during the Ladies’ Singles on day one of the event in London.

Osaka paid homage to her passion for fashion as well as her Japanese heritage and cultural traditions.

Staying true to Wimbledon’s strict all-white rule, Osaka’s floor-length ruffled gown was inspired by the Japanese kimono and was titled Evolving Ceremony.

The four-time Grand Slam champion partnered with Tokyo-based designer Hana Yagi to create the garment using materials upcycled from vintage kimonos, a traditional shiromuku wedding dress and a deconstructed wedding gown.

In her sleek bun, she wore a cascading white floral hair ornament inspired by Japanese kanzashi.

Osaka told media her outfit was inspired by her cultural heritage as well as her love for Lucy Liu’s character in Kill Bill who wore a white kimono.

“I think about the most iconic silhouette, which for me is a kimono. You don’t have to see the colour of a kimono to know that it is a kimono,” she said.

“I remembered absolutely falling in love with Lucy Liu’s character (in Kill Bill). She has an all-white kimono, and I remember thinking 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.”

When the AELTC chief executive Sally Bolton was questioned about Osaka’s extravagant look, she replied: “We’re very relaxed so long as it meets the all-white dress code.”

Before facing Jacquemot, the number 14 seed removed her kimono to reveal a white Nike tennis dress adorned with 3D flowers.

Osaka backed up the fashion moment with a 6-1 7-5 victory.