Naomi Osaka | Image Source: Imagn

Naomi Osaka | Image Source: Imagn

“I Don’t Care” – Naomi Osaka Bluntly Shuts Down Added ‘Pressure’ Talk After Custom Australian Open Outfit

January 21, 2026 | 12:38 AM EST

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka made headlines on day 3 of the Australian Open, even before she started to hit the ball for her round 1 match against Antonia Ruzic at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park. Osaka had to dig in deep to beat Ruzic 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in 2 hours and 22 mins.

Osaka blasted 11 aces in the match alongside a healthy first serve percentage (68%) and a first serve win percentage (73%). The Japanese hit 34 winners, won 102 total points, and broke her opponent five times in 12 attempts. Despite losing the second set, Osaka roared back in the final set to close out the game in a dominant fashion.

While Osaka, a two-time Australian Open champion, won her opening-round match this year, the main event was the attention she drew with her unorthodox outfit and dramatic walk onto Rod Laver Arena. The Japanese player wore a bluish-white jellyfish-inspired outfit, a veil, and a butterfly hat. She completed the ensemble by carrying an umbrella.

After the match, Osaka received mixed reactions to her custom outfit, which she had designed herself, and addressed questions about it during the post-match press conference.

“Honestly, I realize I’m a little strange because I don’t really think I care. Like for me, I just feel like I want to do things that create joy and happiness. For me, obviously, I really love fashion, and that makes me excited to wake up and do the whole walk on or whatever, and it just creates a little bit more joy in that whole match preparation,” Osaka said.

“But no, I don’t think in my mind I’m going to put this on, and if I lose it’s like a wrap. The only thing I realize I change is my hair sometimes. Like, if I put it in a ponytail sometimes, like I can’t see, and then obviously I had braids, and I really can’t see if I play with braids. So yeah, that’s the only real thing that I’m conscious of,” she added.

Naomi Osaka Said Her Serve Came in ‘Clutch’ At the End of the Third Set in 1R of the Australian Open

The Japanese player was down in the final set when Ruzic had broken her serve and was looking to take the game away from the former champion. But Osaka dug in and fought back, ultimately winning the match. A journalist asked the 28-year-old how she managed her stress levels during the third set and proved her mental tenacity on court.

“Yeah, I mean, honestly, what was going on in my head was that I thought my level was pretty good, and if she’s playing at a level that’s higher than mine the entire time, then she deserves to win. And obviously I don’t want that to happen, but if it does, then it’s out of my hands because I’m literally doing the best that I can,” Osaka said.

“But I tried to change it up a little. I know she had a really good backhand. I tried to hit more at her forehand. I tried to be a little more solid and then accelerate when I could. And then obviously my serve came in really clutch at the end,” she added.

Osaka will be in action next in her second-round match against Romanian Sorana Cirstea on Thursday.

Also read:

Coco Gauff’s $150,000 Charity Gesture Leaves Mother Candi Proud

Taylor Fritz & Girlfriend Morgan Riddle’s Terrifying ‘Break-In’ Experience That Left Them Traumatized

Naomi Osaka Gets Scathing Criticism For Australian Open 2026 Outfit From Tennis Fashion Influencer

College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!

Article written by Karan Tyagi

Related Articles

More Tennis From CSN