![[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Jan 20, 2026; Melbourne, AUSTRALIA; Naomi Osaka of Japan after defeating Antonia Ruzic of Croatia in a first round match during the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park.](https://collegefootballnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/naomi-osaka-gets-scathing-criticism-01-21-26-1920x1320.jpg "Naomi Osaka Moved Beyond Words After Stunning Australian Open Nike Outfit Goes 'Sold Out' In First Retail Release")
Naomi Osaka fought hard for her first-round win at the 2026 Australian Open on Tuesday, as she defeated Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
However, the bigger talking point was the former World No. 1’s jellyfish-inspired outfit, which she flaunted while entering the Rod Laver Arena. While the majority of the tennis world lauded the four-time Major winner’s outfit, there were a few critics as well.
Osaka donned a turquoise veil and a wide-brimmed hat while carrying a white umbrella. It was a collaboration with Nike, as the Japanese star worked with Marty Harper and the London-based designer Robert Wun.
Eliza Wastcoat, a tennis fashion influencer, was far from impressed with Osaka’s outfit, labeling it “tasteless.” In a video posted on Instagram, Wastcoat said:
“You’re simply lying to yourself if you say you like Naomi Osaka’s walk-on outfit. I am tired of my own argument that anything that gets people talking about tennis is a good thing, because tacky and tasteless fashion choices do not do the heritage of tennis fashion any justice.”
She continued:
“This is four different concepts in one. It’s a beach, a wedding, an aquatic center, and a beekeeper’s outfit all in one. No, it is not an iconic reference to Beyoncé’s 2024 Grammys hat moment because that was tastefully done and tied in with the storytelling of her album. This was more like a 2020 Billy Porter reference for all the wrong reasons.”
Wastcoat concluded by saying:
“I am sorry to say, but tennis fashion deserves a better representative because this is not it. And if you are going to make big and bold fashion statements, you also have to accept that big and bold critics come with it, which means you fans do too. Quite honestly, I’m speaking up for the quiet majority who hate this outfit but are worried about being yelled at by too many yes men. I am so sorry, but I am not sorry.”
“She Got So Excited” – Naomi Osaka Says She Opted For the Jellyfish-Inspired Outfit Because of Her Daughter
Naomi Osaka welcomed her daughter, Shai, in July 2023 with her ex-boyfriend, Cordae. Ahead of her first-round Australian Open clash, the 16th seed sat down for an interview with Vogue and revealed the reason for her jellyfish-inspired outfit.
“There was an image of a jellyfish (in a storybook), and when I showed it to her, she got so excited,” Osaka said.
She added that her fashion choices changed after she stopped worrying about how others would react.
“Fashion, for me, really opened up when I stopped thinking about how it would be received and started thinking about how it made me feel. The biggest shift really has been realising that style doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful. It can be quiet, emotional, layered. That realization changed everything for me,” she said.
Naomi Osaka will take on Romania’s Sorana Cîrstea in the second round on Thursday, January 22. Cîrstea defeated Eva Lys in her opening round in three sets.
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