ROLAND GARROS

May 26, 2026

Naomi Osaka

Press Conference

N. OSAKA/L. Siegemund

6-3, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Naomi, well done today. Just talk us through your thoughts on the match and what you were most pleased about.

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I mean, it was a really tough match for me. I felt very nervous, and also, she's a really tough opponent to play. I haven't played since Rome, so I think just to get through it in two is something that I'm pleased about.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Can you give us the story behind the kit and everything like that?

NAOMI OSAKA: I mean, the kit, like, the outer shell? Well, you know, like the playing kit is Nike, of course. Then the outer pieces are Kevin Germanier.

I don't know. For me, obviously, like, Australian Open was really fun. I got to collaborate with Robert Wun. Then just to come here and be in Paris and collaborate with Kevin.

Also, it just it's just fun to watch designers work, especially when there is like an already pre-existing thing that they have to design around, and just to see the ideas. We kind of, like, talked back and forth. For me, that's the most interesting part.

Q. Congrats on both the win and the look. I wonder, is it strange or difficult or challenging, maybe, to come out and make that statement, and then kind of have to switch on for warmups and then get into this match mode? I wonder what that process is like for you.

NAOMI OSAKA: Ironically, I think I'm a little used to it now. I think Australia -- well, honestly, if I have to think about it, like, my bow dress with the Yoon, the Yoon Ambush dress kind of first started it all off. But the US Open, like the roses in my hair, I think that's when I started to really get into it a lot more. Obviously with Australia, it's, like, that was a real conversation starter.

So for me, I don't really feel like it's too much of a big deal to do that and then play after. I could see where people would think I feel a little stressed or whatever. I think that's kind of the thing about it.

Like sometimes people say athletes are, like, in show business or entertainers or whatever. I feel like for me, like, Grand Slam walk-ons are the only time that I possibly feel like I'm an entertainer.

Q. I also have a question about your hair. When you're on the road, how do you find people who can braid your hair and do your hair in the styles that you want? It's hard enough at home, and I can't really imagine trying to navigate it in many different countries throughout the year.

NAOMI OSAKA: Honestly, I just talk to other people. Sometimes, well, Taylor recommended my nail person. So I feel like it's having conversations with other people. Then my hair, the person that does my hair also knows a lot of people in different countries, too. So that's definitely very helpful.

Q. Congrats on the outfit today. You talked in your previous press about sort of remembering the moments that Venus and Serena had with their reveals. I'm curious on a somewhat tangential level what your interest level has been over the speculation around Serena coming back this year and if that's something you're paying attention to, something you're excited about? I know you were following her your whole life.

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I mean, for me that's definitely something I would be really excited about. Just to see her around the sites and playing matches again I think is really cool for tennis.

Yeah, I would be excited to see her outfits again, too. But also her playing. I think she's one of the best players in the world, of course.

Q. I'm digging into the movement of sliding. I believe you asked Novak a couple years ago of how he did it. Can you expand a bit on that conversation and what are the ingredients that make an excellent slider?

NAOMI OSAKA: I mean, when I asked Novak, I asked him about how he slides on grass, not necessarily clay. He just told me, like, to not feel any fear and to keep going for it even if you fall.

Eh. I don't know. I fell a couple of times. I said, Oh, that might not be for me.

Yeah, I mean, obviously when the best player in the world gives you advice, you want to listen to it, for sure.

I think I'm a pretty decent slider on hard court on my forehand side. I think on clay I'm decent too. I'm trying to learn how to slide a little bit more on my backhand, like Iga, I know she does that a lot.

Yeah, I'm interested to hear what the other players tell you.

Q. I just talked to your friend, Taylor Townsend, and she really wanted to talk about the healing experience of your dinner party the other night and what it meant to her and to all of you to be a part of that. I was wondering if you could talk a little bit more about how much that meant to you?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, for me, it meant a lot. Obviously, also, to see Monfils there, he's like one of my heroes, and this is his last Roland Garros. So just to see him come and kind of celebrate him in a way, it was definitely really cool.

I don't know. I think just being on the road you kind of build small families, and I felt like everyone in that room was a part of my family.

Q. I would like to have your opinion, maybe one day here in Paris you will play in five sets. Do you think it's a good or bad idea?

NAOMI OSAKA: Who, me? Yeah, okay (smiling). You know, I'm neutral on it. Like, I think ironically it would be good for me, because I'm pretty stable the longer the matches get, but I would be pretty interested to see, like, if people sustain injuries and, like, the logistics of all of that.

Like, I understand, it's a pretty entertaining topic, a talking point, but I kind of want to see what happens if people dive deeper into that.

Q. Obviously a first round is always tricky at a slam. Your opponent today, she comes with her own kind of challenges, I guess. I wonder if you can talk through a little bit about overcoming those challenges and getting through the first round as well and what you find may be more challenging about first round.

NAOMI OSAKA: I mean, I think the first rounds are always tricky, because everyone feels the same amount of nerves. Maybe some people more than others. We're both just trying to get through.

I feel like today obviously my opponent was definitely really tricky with all her dropshots and things like that, and she kind of gave me no rhythm at a certain point.

But, you know, I feel like I prepared for that, like, everyone on tour knows that about her. Yeah, it wasn't like I was stepping into a new experience or anything.

Q. In your time practicing getting ready for this tournament, like, how much are you and Tomasz focusing on, for example, patterns, locking in patterns for stress or that you can go to, versus like shot quality, and how has that balance between those two things kind of, I don't know, changed, like, over the course of your career of when you would focus on one more than the other? Yeah, if you could just talk about that.

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, so honestly, with Tomasz, he doesn't try to overload me too much. I feel like that comes with him trusting me too and my decision-making, because he knows I'm a little bit instinctual at times.

But I do feel like with him, we talk about the quality of the ball, like, because my ball pace is pretty high, I would say, in terms of all the players out there. So we just -- well, he tries to just tell me to, like, keep up the same speed, because sometimes I dip when I overthink.

But during practices, he is quite, well, it depends on the opponent. Usually the day before sometimes he'll give me a lot of patterns to practice, but it really just depends.

(Naomi's answers to questions in Japanese.)

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I mean, I think if I were to go back in the match and try to understand what I did well, I know I got angry at a certain point, but I would say keeping a level head at the very important moments, like the tiebreakers or even when she broke me or when I had a couple of points to break her and I wasn't able to convert. So keeping a level head at certain moments of time.

Yeah, I thought it was pretty interesting how hot it was, because I never use an ice towel, or I try not to use an ice towel, and I had to use one today. Coming off the court, I was telling everyone, I think I got burned, and I thought the Australian Open was the only tournament or the only Grand Slam you could get burned at.

Yeah, for me, I felt like it was good conditions. Like, I love the heat, and I'm very used to it, so I didn't have any complaints.

Yeah, I just think it's kind of funny, like, ironically -- I said "ironically" a lot today -- but I really, when I first saw the dress in real life, I felt like I look like the Eiffel Tower at nighttime, when it's, like, bright and, like, kira, kira and all that. And then 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 (smiling).

So I got, like, two backup normal Nike dresses -- shoutout, Nike -- thank God I didn't have to wear them, though. Yeah, I just really, I don't know, I thought the reflection of the dress was really beautiful, but it just reminded me of the Eiffel Tower a little bit.

I mean, I have practiced with her, like, a couple days ago, and I do think it's going to be really tough, because I feel like she's a sneaky good clay court player, because she got a silver medal, right, here? Yeah, so it's definitely going to be another tough match. I think she plays completely different from my opponent today, but I think if I had to step up to the challenge, I would be ready for it.