AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 21, 2026

Naomi Osaka

Press Conference

N. OSAKA/A. Ruzic

6-3, 3-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Naomi, quite a battle out there today. Give us your overall thoughts on your performance today.

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I mean, it was definitely really difficult because it was a first round. I've also never played her before.

But, in general, I didn't think I played bad. I thought it was a pretty good match. I'm just glad that my serve kind of got me over the edge.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Spectacular entrance. Seemed like there were a lot of inspirations at play. What can you share on how it all came together.

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, so the inspiration was obviously the jellyfish, then butterflies, which kind of ties back to the butterfly moment I had here a long time ago, in 2021.

Yeah, no, honestly it came together quite beautifully because I didn't know what to expect when I arrived here. Then it just felt like everywhere I looked the theme was water. Obviously the walkout was like you see oceans and waves. I thought that it was really beautiful. Really amazing coincidence.

Q. On the outfit, how much does that create more nerves or excitement for you in addition to the match prep? How did you handle the occasion and making the moment in the midst of wanting to also be focused on a match?

NAOMI OSAKA: 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, like, create joy and happiness.

For me, obviously I really love fashion. That makes me excited to wake up and do the whole, like, walk-on or whatever. It just creates a little bit more joy in that whole match preparation.

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 that I do change is my hair sometimes. Like, if I put it in a ponytail, sometimes I can't see. Then obviously I had braids. I really can't see if I play with braids.

Yeah, that's the only real thing that I'm conscious of.

Q. You were down a break in the third set. What was your stress level versus problem solving?

NAOMI OSAKA: I mean, honestly what was going in my head was that I thought my level was pretty good. If she's playing at a level that's higher than mine the entire time, then she deserves to win. 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.

I tried to change it up a little. I know she had, like, a really good backhand. I tried to hit more to her forehand. I tried to be a little bit more solid, then kind of accelerate when I could.

Then obviously my serve came in really clutch at the end.

Q. Some people were comparing your outfit to Young Thug. Was that a reference?

NAOMI OSAKA: No, I really did think about what when we were doing the shoot. But no, I mean he had his iconic... That's hilarious.

Q. Were there other references you had to pop culture?

NAOMI OSAKA: No, honestly, I could only think of the Young Thug thing. Also, I feel like we were just so happy to create. We were just kind of in there in the studio like kids, just trying to figure it out. It was like a dance.

No, I feel like for us, it was like a very huge team effort. I'm really glad it came together.

Q. Do you ever wish other players would do more?

NAOMI OSAKA: Being extra? Yeah, of course.

Q. Sure.

NAOMI OSAKA: Sure. Like, for me, I will say this, but I grew up with the G.O.A.T.s of style, Serena, Venus, Sharapova. People don't talk about her enough, but Bethanie Mattek-Sands, too. She made it work with what she had.

I think it all comes down to personality, too. I don't expect someone that's really reserved to freaking put a veil on their head and go out and play their match.

But I think people, I don't know, you see bits of personality. I've seen people with bows in their hair. I think like that's always going to be the first step into something. I'm always curious to see what is the next thing.

Q. Are you talking about Taylor with the bow?

NAOMI OSAKA: I mean, T.T. has been doing that. I think I saw in Wimbledon, Rakhimova, yeah.

Q. In some ways you're pretty reserved. I'm curious where does your extra-ness come from?

NAOMI OSAKA: I'm a libra (smiling).

No, I mean, when I was 13, I went to Japan for the first time. I went to Harajuku. It felt like people could be themselves with their clothes.

For me, I feel like when I step on the court, I'm not the me that you're talking to right now. I would never yell C'mon that loud in, like, a normal setting. I almost feel like I'm a Barbie that dresses up and goes on the court and does something. When I come back in the locker room is when I'm like my true quiet Naomi.

Q. You've talked in the past about certain outfits. When you lost early, you wanted to wear them more. Was any part of you today like I'm not losing in this outfit?

NAOMI OSAKA: You have like hopes and dreams, but also there's some things that are out of my control. I almost feel like I've learned that if I have that fear, it comes true more.

When I was playing today, I just told myself, like, Keep your head on the path. If she beats you, then that's unfortunate. But hey, at least you're trending on Twitter (smiling).

Q. How long was this planned for? Is this months-long in the planning? Do you speak to Craig Tiley about what you're going to do, get him to help make it even more fantastic?

NAOMI OSAKA: So, no, this is definitely months in planning. Obviously you kind of have to I guess prep for this. You also have to, like, see the design, see if it works, see if you can walk. The scariest thing for me was I didn't know if the umbrella could fit in the tunnel. I did low-key like hit a couple of the little boards. I think it worked.

But no, honestly Craig has been super, super kind to me. I don't know. It just worked out really well. But he's an awesome guy.

Q. What did Craig think? Did he like it?

NAOMI OSAKA: I didn't ask him. The next time I see him in his office, I'll go up to him and ask.

(Naomi's answers to questions in Japanese.)

NAOMI OSAKA: No, I mean, I think for me today, I obviously didn't know much about her. Like, I've never played her before. I watched videos, of course. But going into matches like those, especially since she's young, I kind of feel like the player has nothing to lose. Obviously I'm a little bit more stressed.

I understood that it was going to be a tough match, like, from the very beginning because I think she had some good results coming into this tournament. For me, I definitely kind of expected this, like, three-set situation.

Now you're clocking me. So you know I'm a little stubborn. I was, like, understanding that her backhand was really good. But then I was, like, my backhand should be better. Realistically I should have changed, but sometimes I like making my life a little difficult for myself. Then obviously I started changing it, like, for the last three games. It became way easier. I kind of kicked myself in the head for that.

Honestly it was kind of fun to kind of trade backhands. I hope that for me the last person that I played that had a really good backhand beat me. I hope that I, like, learned from this match, too.

Cirstea? Cirstea? I don't know if I've played her before, but obviously I've seen her around quite a few times. I ironically did watch her match. She played Lys, no? I did watch that match before I was going on court. I didn't even know she was my opponent. It seems like she was playing really good, pretty solid. I didn't know the pace of the ball. Yeah, I think that will also be a really good match.