Will Naomi Osaka's envelope-pushing outfits get her banned from Wimbledon?

All eyes were on Naomi Osaka at Wimbledon today — and not because she was nursing an injury just two days ago.

The former world tennis number one walked out to her first match of the 2026 tournament against Elsa Jacquemot in a fabulous floor-length white kimono, with a tulle ruffled skirt and draped sleeves, embellished with cranes and cherry blossoms.

She obeyed the long-standing all-white dress code, cinching her get up in at the waist with a white obi, secured with flower-shaped knots. The final touch was the white traditional kanzashi hair piece.

The four-time Grand Slam champion, 28, then removed her get-up to reveal a simple Nike white tennis dress, with a tiny ruffled hem and three embellished white flowers by the collar.

Naomi has made headlines for her elaborate outfits, most recently at the French Open in May, when she strutted onto court in a sequined ‌waistcoat and black floor-length mesh skirt.

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Underneath, her tennis dress was tan with a ruffled waist and golden glittering sequins, which the four-time Grand Slam champion likened to her take on the ‘Eiffel Tower at night when it’s sparkly’.

But it begged the question, would Naomi Osaka be banned from Wimbledon this summer if her outfits didn’t comply with the iconic British tournament’s strict dress code?

It’s understood the All England Club, which hosts Wimbledon, would not ban Naomi’s walk-on, provided she complied with the dress code, which she seems to have done.

As predicted she subtly showed off her love for tulle and ruffles when she entered court at around 2pm Monday.

The Japanese star’s most notable outfit was the jellyfish-esque ensemble she wore to the Australian Open. It involved a blue and green ruffled Nike sports dress, a large wide-brimmed white hat with a mesh veil and a long white underskirt.

The star has said she’s ‘a little dramatic’ when it comes to her fashion sense, but adds it’s how she expresses herself because she’s not the most ‘talkative’ person.

Naomi’s walk-on outfit was the creation of Tokyo-based designer Hana Yagi, inspired by Japanese ceremonial dress.

Marty Harper, the tennis star’s creative director, told Vogue the traditions of Wimbledon formed the inspiration for this look, which was represented in their recreation of the kimono.

Marty then asked Hana, who works with retired ceremonial garments, to create something that represented an ‘evolving ceremony’.

The fashion statement is made from vintage shiromuku [traditional Japanese bridal garments], kimono and wedding dresses. It also uses three-dimensional floral appliqués to nod to the Japanese art of paper cutting.

Her outfits no doubt push the envelope in a sport where attire is so heavily regulated, and not everyone has welcomed her whimsy.

Germany’s Laura Siegemund, who Naomi defeated in straight-sets in the first round of the French tournament, hit back saying she was ‘not here for a fashion show’.

Tennis player Jamie Murray has previously slammed her Australian Open outfit in a BBC interview, saying: ‘It was like Mary Poppins on… I don’t know what she was on, but she’s on something. I was like, ‘What are you doing?”‘

Naomi has also taken to Threads in the past, hitting back at people calling her fashion choices ‘classless’. ‘I don’t do this for them though – they will never get it, and I don’t want them to,’ she wrote. ‘I do this for the people that are like me.’

And on X, she’s received a boatload of praise for her outfits. ‘The way it floats and flutters, then catches the sun in movement, is mesmerizing,’ wrote one.

‘It’s JUST a dress. A shiny, sparkly, beautiful dress that Naomi Osaka chose to wear. Why does that hurt your fragile feelings?’ added another.

Known for its all-white strict dress code for players, Wimbledon isn’t exactly a place for experimenting with your match attire.

The rules state competitors must be dressed in suitable tennis attire that is almost entirely white (not off-white or cream) and this applies from the point at which the player enters the court surround.

A single trim of colour around the neckline and around the cuff of the sleeves is acceptable but it can’t be wider than one centimetre. This also applies to caps, headbands, bandanas, wristbands and socks.

It’s unlikely the star will be banned entirely, but the tournament has a history of fining competitors.

Australian star Nick Kyrgios was fined £11,700 in 2022 – the year he reached the final – partly for wearing red Jordans and wearing a red cap when accepting his second-place trophy – while others have been told to change.

Venus Williams had to change her fuchsia bra after the straps became visible during the tournament, while Roger Federer had to change his orange-soled Nike tennis shoes.

But just because Naomi can’t experiment with colour, doesn’t mean she can’t experiment with style, for which there are no visible guidelines apart from being ‘suitable’ for tennis.

And the tennis star has said she has ‘backup normal Nike dresses’ for tournaments if her outfit isn’t appreciated by officials. Speaking about the French Open, she told Sky Sports: ‘I actually got a little worried, because when the sun hits the dress, it reflects a lot. So I was a little scared that the umpire was going to kick me off the court.’

Metro’s assistant editor, Lucy Mapstone, has some pretty strong thoughts for the tennis traditionalists who aren’t supportive of Naomi’s self-expression.

‘I bl**dy love Naomi Osaka for doing what she’s doing,’ Lucy says. ‘Tradition is one thing, but do you know what else is special? Looking absolutely fantastic, exuding confidence and giving a fashionable middle finger to your critics while doing it with style.

‘And you can’t deny Osaka is making this year’s French Open more interesting. Couture meets tennis? How marvellous.

‘Sport can be an archaic space and, understandably, one built on rules and tradition. But Osaka has long faced a level of scrutiny that feels all too familiar for female athletes and women of colour.

‘It also strikes me that women’s sport constantly asks its stars to be marketable, charismatic and culturally relevant – then gets uncomfortable when they actually are.

‘I can’t help but wonder: if a male tennis player turned up in something equally daring, would he be attracting the same level of negativity? I highly doubt it.

‘Personally, I’d love to see Osaka continue this fashion streak all the way to Wimbledon. Tennis needs stars, and stars need personality. Osaka’s outfits are creating conversation, bringing fresh eyes to the sport and making tournaments that little bit more fun.

It’s very possible we could see her in an all-white tennis dress with a multiple-tiered ruffled skirt and maybe even a white bow on the back, similar to the lime green get-up she wore for the 2024 US Open.

Or she may opt for a similar poofy skirt and mesh dress, similar to the orange and purple numbers she wore for the same tournament in 2025, but this time in white.

One thing’s for sure, we won’t just be attending Wimbledon for the Strawberries and Cream this year, all eyes will be on the iconic tennis star and her next red carpet moment.

This article was originally published in May 2026 and has since been updated.