the Open that I won in 2021<\/a>, which I guess is a long time ago.\u201d<\/p>\nMELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 20: Naomi Osaka of Japan walks out ahead of the Women’s Singles First Round match against Antonia Ruzic of Croatia on day three of the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 20, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Meanwhile she told Vogue: \u201cWhen I look back at the players who came before me, I think about how those moments – those looks – have become memories that live forever.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo much of the time, other people get to write our stories for us. This felt like a moment where I could write a little bit of my own.\u201d<\/p>\n
Osaka was reading to her daughter Shai when \u201cthere was an image of a jellyfish, and when I showed it to her she got so excited.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt translated beautifully into the movement and fluidity of the sheer layers on the dress and the jacket. When I saw it during the fitting, I remember thinking, \u2018this is beautiful,\u2019 but also feeling like the story wasn\u2019t fully finished yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Japan’s Naomi Osaka arrives to face Croatia\u00e2\u0080\u0099s Antonia Ruzic during their women’s singles match on day three of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 20, 2026. (Photo by Martin KEEP \/ AFP)Source: AFP<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a little Great Gatsby about it. It\u2019s pure theatre,\u201d Australian great Todd Woodbridge said on Nine\u2019s coverage.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s bringing the theatre and the entertainment to Rod Laver Arena and centre court.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a big statement early on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former British No.1 Laura Robson declared \u201cit\u2019s a vibe\u201d on TNT Sports\u2019 coverage. <\/p>\n
She then added: \u201cI love it, this is a moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fellow former British star Tim Henman replied: \u201cWow, I am speechless. It\u2019s pretty cool. Does it put pressure on your performance?\u201d<\/p>\n
To not mess with her aesthetic, Osaka\u2019s tennis bag was waiting for her at her courtside bench.<\/p>\n
Commentator Sam Smith said the four-time grand slam champion\u2019s entrance was almost like a throwback to a pioneer of the women\u2019s sport, who boasts a court named in her honour at Roland Garros.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first tennis and global (female) sports star was a lady called Suzanne Lenglen, who had that huge bandana,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the 1920s, she was France\u2019s best player. She played alongside Daphne Akhurst, after whom this trophy is named.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I think if she was looking down now from tennis heaven, she would be admiring Naomi Osaka and the way she has brought fashion to the court tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
Having made such a statement walking onto the court, she needed to do the same on it, and Osaka delivered early.<\/p>\n
After breaking her opponent\u2019s serve at the earliest opportunity Osaka took the first set 6-3.<\/p>\n
But the score line was reversed in the second set, which included a bizarre interruption as the red lights beside the net indicating when a play is out were stuck on for almost 10 minutes, before Ruzic sent the contest to a deciding third set.<\/p>\n
The pair traded breaks, with Ruzic – playing just her second grand slam match – remarkably finding herself serving while 4-3 up in the decider.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s when Osaka found her best tennis of the night, winning three straight games to seal a 6-3 3-6 6-4 victory.<\/p>\n
Osaka will face Sorana Cirstea in the second round, and she has world No.2 Iga Swiatek as her projected fourth round opponent.<\/p>\n
The two-time champion is the No.16 seed at this year\u2019s Australian Open, an event she won in 2019 and 2021.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768365730_454_poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n