Osaka Appears at Wimbledon in White Kimono Reminiscent of 'Kill Bill'

Naomi Osaka (14th, Japan), who has consistently drawn attention at tournaments with her unique outfits, appeared in a white kimono for the first round of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships (total prize money of 64.2 million pounds).

On June 29 (local time), Osaka defeated Elsa Jacquemot (France) 2-0 in the women's singles first round at the All England Club in London, England, to advance to the second round.

More attention than her advancement to the second round was focused on her attire.

Wimbledon is famous for its strict "all-white" dress code for players, and Osaka entered the court wearing a floor-length white kimono gown.

"When I think of Wimbledon, I naturally think of all-white. It has the tradition of the oldest Grand Slam tournament," Osaka explained after the match. "Thinking about that, I thought of my culture and heritage, which has roots in Japan and Haiti."

She added, "For me, the most iconic form of clothing in Japanese culture is the kimono. You can tell it's a kimono even without looking at the color."

Osaka also mentioned that the outfit was inspired by the white kimono worn by the character played by Lucy Liu in Quentin Tarantino's film "Kill Bill: Vol. 1."

"I thought that scene was really cool and amazing. It is my own interpretation, incorporating respect and affection for Japan," she said.

Sally Bolton, Chief Executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), stated, "There is no problem as long as it meets the all-white dress code," adding, "Like every player who enters the court, they just need to follow the rules."

Osaka has long turned tennis courts into fashion runways with her flamboyant outfits.

At this year's Australian Open, she appeared on the court in a turquoise outfit inspired by a jellyfish, wearing a wide-brimmed white hat with a long veil and carrying a parasol.

At the French Open, she showcased a black corset and pleated skirt designed by Kevin Germanier.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.