United News of Bangladesh

Naomi Osaka once again made a bold fashion statement at Wimbledon, arriving for her first-round match in a flowing white kimono inspired by a character from Quentin Tarantino's film ‘Kill Bill’. Despite Wimbledon's famous all-white dress code, Osaka embraced the tradition in her own way by wearing a white embroidered kimono with wide sleeves as she walked onto Court No. 3 for her match against Elsa Jacquemot. The four-time Grand Slam champion then defeated Jacquemot 6-1, 7-5 to advance to the second round. Speaking after the match, Osaka said the outfit reflected her Japanese heritage and was inspired by Lucy Liu's character O-Ren Ishii in ‘Kill Bill’. "My Japanese heritage means a lot to me," Osaka said. "Since Wimbledon requires players to wear white, I thought it would be special to come out in a white kimono." She added that she enjoys drawing inspiration from different sources and often likes to imagine herself as a video game character rather than being herself while competing on court. The crowd welcomed Osaka's entrance with loud cheers, with many fans raising their phones to capture the moment. One supporter shouted, "Come on, queen!" as she walked onto the court. Former top-10 player Alicia Molik, who was commentating for the BBC, said Osaka's arrival had become one of the day's most anticipated moments. Osaka kept the kimono on during the pre-match instructions at the net before removing it and placing it on her chair ahead of the warm-up. She is no stranger to making memorable entrances at Grand Slam tournaments. Earlier this year at the Australian Open, she appeared wearing a wide-brimmed hat, a veil and carrying a white parasol. At the French Open, she entered the court in a black ceremonial skirt and beaded bodice before revealing a gold playing outfit underneath. Off the court, Osaka also attracted attention at this year's Met Gala, where she wore a striking white sculptural gown designed by Robert Wun, complete with red feathers, a matching headpiece and two-tone red gloves. Her Wimbledon outfit drew attention even before she reached the court, as she walked through the tournament grounds. Osaka said she noticed people turning around to get a better look, adding that she found their reactions entertaining. She also revealed that fellow players had been asking practical questions, including whether she owned only one white kimono and what she would do if it got stained. At her post-match press conference, Osaka highlighted another part of her heritage by wearing the red-and-blue football jersey of Haiti after the country's national team qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup for the first time since 1974. "I felt really proud of them," she said.