Osaka: I’ll Take the Criticism If It Helps Future Athletes
Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has defended her bold fashion choices, saying she is willing to face criticism if doing so creates an easier path for athletes who come after her. Osaka has become known for her eye-catching outfits on the tennis court, including a hooded white gown she wore during her first-round match at the US Open against Anastasia Zakharova. In her latest appearance, she wore a decorated coat at the start of her last-16 match against Elena Rybakina, which she eventually lost. Underneath the gown, Osaka wore an all-black basketball-style kit and appeared with braided hair and a headband in a tribute to former NBA star Allen Iverson, whom she described as a “trailblazer” in fashion. Addressing criticism of her clothing choices in a social media post on Wednesday, Osaka said she was comfortable challenging expectations even when it attracted negative reactions. She compared the criticism to the backlash she faced after speaking openly about her mental health in 2021, when she withdrew from the French Open after declining mandatory media appearances and said she had experienced significant anxiety and depression.
Osaka said the reaction to her outfits reminded her of the criticism she received when she spoke publicly about mental health. “This happened when I talked about mental health and for some reason it’s happening with my clothes lol,” she wrote. The Japanese tennis star also linked her willingness to express herself boldly to her Haitian heritage, saying, “I’m literally Haitian it’s in my blood to be this way.” Osaka added that she was prepared to endure criticism if it meant future athletes would have greater freedom to express themselves. Her comments underline her broader willingness to challenge conventions both on and off the court. For Osaka, criticism is part of the process of breaking new ground, and she believes that taking that criticism now can help make it easier for athletes who follow her to express their personalities and identities without facing the same barriers.
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