For a moment it felt like an episode of the Masked Singer.
Just when it seemed the Australian Open had reached peak commercial culture in 2026, along strode Naomi Osaka for her first round match with Croatian world no.65 Antonia Ruzic.
Well known for her designer walk-on outfits, the 2021 Australian Open champion and no.16 seed sent tongues wagging and social media ablaze as she entered Rod Laver Arena dressed as a haute couture Nike jellyfish.
“Naomi looks great. The players are serious when they need to be but it's also a time of fun, positive vibes & enjoy the moments along the way, that’s the beauty of the AO,” commented one fan on the official Australian Open X feed.
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“The Lady Gaga of the tennis world!” Added another.
But the feedback wasn’t all positive.
“Unless she is transitioning to a fashion designer, this seems ridiculous,” said one unimpressed fan.
“Oh stop it, she looks ridiculous. It’s tennis not Paris fashion week. Cringe,” was another common theme.
“How does it feel turning your tournament into a circus?”
Fashion show or otherwise, Osaka got the job done on the court with a hard-fought 6-3 3-6 6-4 win over her impressive 23-year-old opponent.
Osaka was asked about her creative outfit choice by Channel Nine’s Jelena Dokic following the match.
“Nike let me design this one, it’s modelled after a jellyfish,” Osaka explained.
“I’m so grateful that I get to do the things that I love, it’s really beautiful.”
Osaka now faces Romania’s Sorana Cîrstea in the second round as the tennis world waits to see what she’ll be wearing next.
Instantly iconic @naomiosaka 🤍✨ pic.twitter.com/WQA7CvVp8v
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2026