Naomi Osaka explains the inspiration behind her bold Indian Wells outfit

Naomi Osaka made quite the impression in her return to tennis at Indian Wells.

She walked onto the court with gold jewellery covering her face and wearing leopard print, immediately drawing attention.

This wasn’t the first time she’d stood out this year. Back at the Australian Open, her outfit sparked plenty of conversation too.

After seeing off Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva 7-5, 6-2, in her opening match, Osaka explained what inspired her look for Indian Wells.

Naomi Osaka reveals how iconic Naomi Campbell photo influenced her Indian Wells look

During her post-match press conference, Osaka explained the inspiration behind her outfit.

“Okay, so get ready for my long spiel,” she began.

“So obviously the base of the outfit was leopard print.

“Then, when I was kind of diving deeper into it, we were thinking, okay, leopard in the desert.

“Then there is that iconic photo of Naomi Campbell running with the cheetah, right?

“I was, like, okay, do I want to tell a story like this, but obviously based on who I am. My leopard is more like a huntress. Like I’m hunting something. There is something I want to go get.”

Osaka continued:

The 26-year-old also shared her perspective on whether she follows a ‘look good, feel good’ mindset.

She explained:

Naomi Osaka’s outfits have helped restore her star power

From 2018 to 2021, Osaka put together an impressive run, winning four Grand Slam titles and spending 25 weeks as the world number one.

But since her last major title at the Australian Open in 2021, she hasn’t added another WTA trophy to her collection.

The Japanese star stepped away from tennis for a while, had a daughter, and saw her ranking slip during that period.

Her comeback in 2024 got off to a slow start, but lately, she’s started to look more like the player fans remember.

And with each of her standout outfits this year, Osaka has made herself must-watch viewing again.

Each tournament brings something new from her—a look that catches people by surprise and gets everyone talking.

The variety is part of the appeal. She’s been seen on court with everything from veils to face jewellery, and even carrying an umbrella. You never know what might show up next.

This focus on style isn’t just about looking good. It’s become part of who she is on tour, helping bring in new fans who might not have followed before.

Tennis and fashion have often gone hand-in-hand over the years. But Osaka seems to be taking it further than most before her ever have.

No one knows yet what she’ll wear at Miami next month, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if it grabbed attention once again…

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