Naomi Osaka stuns at Wimbledon in Kill Bill-inspired kimono dress: What's the hidden meaning? Decoded

We all know about the strict all-white attire at Wimbledon. Naomi Osaka played by the rules and still managed to make a fashion statement with her recent outfit at Wimbledon on Monday. She walked the grass at the All England Club in a stunning kimono-inspired dress.

Naomi Osaka’s kimono at Wimbledon

She opted for a loose flowing kimono with large swinging sleeves. The all-white outfit features intricate embroidery. Her appearance was for a first round match against Elsa Jacquemot on Court #3.

Netizens react

Her appearance impressed netizens. One of them wrote on X: “I love a lot of her fashion stuff. One of the few players since Williams and Marie who does really cool stuff in space.” “I just love seeing people show their culture,” added another. Someone else commented: “That cut fits. Naomi Osaka’s fashion is always on point.”

Another said: “If you’re not going to take the court dressed like this, why are you even there?”

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Decoding Naomi Osaka’s outfit

So why did Naomi Osaka wear a Kimono inspired outfit? Here’s what it meant.

According to Naomi Osaka, her outfit is inspired by Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill. It is an homage to the character O-ren Ishii from the film, played by actress Lucy Liu.

“My Japanese background means a lot to me. At Wimbledon, they say all white, and I thought it would be really cool to perform in a kimono,” Osaka said after her 6-1 win, according to the AP.

“I’m just inspired by a lot of different things, and for me, one of my favorite movies is ‘Kill Bill.’ So I really love Lucy Liu’s character, O-Ren Ishii, and she comes out in this really iconic white kimono. I always tell people that sometimes I like to be like a character in a video game, I don’t want to be myself when I play on the court. And I try to embody her a little,” she added.

Osaka’s outfit got a lot of reactions from those at the match.

“It’s something we’ve been waiting for all day, right, what Naomi Osaka is going to do at Wimbledon,” joked Alicia Molik, a former top 10 player who commentates for the BBC.

To get to Court No. 3, Osaka had to walk through part of the Wimbledon grounds to reach the stadium and offered fans a glimpse of her appearance.

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“I felt like when I walked past someone, it physically turned my whole body,” Osaka said, adding, “I thought it was really fun.”

“I’ve been asked if I only have one because it’s all white and what happens if I get it dirty,” she also said.

It’s not the first time that Naomi Osaka has caught everyone’s attention with her outfit on court. At the Australian Open earlier this year, she wore a wide-brimmed hat, veil and held a white parasol. At the French Open, she stunned in a formal black skirt and sleeveless beaded bodice. She also wore a sequined gold play dress underneath.