Naomi Osaka wowed the crowd in Melbourne with an outfit for the walk that included a veil and an umbrella

Osaka comes up with an idea after a bedtime story

The 28-year-old athlete explained before the tournament what she intended to do, as well as the reasons for it, tells Vogue: “When I look back at the players that came before me, I think about how those moments – that look – have become memories that live forever.

« A lot of the time, other people write our stories for us. This felt like a moment where I could write a little of my own. »

The outfit was designed by Robert Wun, whose creations have previously been worn by pop stars such as Beyonce, Cardi B and Ariana Grande.

And the inspiration came from reading a bedtime story to her two-year-old daughter.

« There was an image of a jellyfish, and when I showed it to her, she got so excited, » she says.

Clothing will bring Osaka back into the limelight

Then Nike and Wun got to work.

« It translated beautifully into the movement and fluidity of the sheer layers on the dress and the jacket. When I saw it during editing, I remember thinking, ‘this is beautiful,’ but also feeling like the story wasn’t quite finished yet. »

Osaka is seeded 16th in the first Grand Slam event of the season, having struggled to maintain the form that saw her reach world number one in 2019.

There were signs of a revival at last year’s US Open, but when she reached the semifinals, her first appearance in the last four of a major since 2021.