'World No. 1' prestige crumbles; '250 million won dress' bizarrely appears on court: "It's not a fashion show..." Why on earth?

*This content was translated by AI.

Criticism is pouring in that the flashy outfit changes of Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka amount to eccentric behavior. Osaka, 29, who once held the world No. 1 ranking in women's singles tennis, is facing backlash for wearing a dress before her French Open match, with critics arguing it resembles a fashion show and raising concerns about fairness in rule enforcement.

On the 27th (Korean time), British media outlet 'BBC' focused on the story, reporting that "Osaka made a glamorous appearance at the French Open in a glittering gold tennis dress that sparkled like the Eiffel Tower at night."

According to the media, the world No. 16-ranked Osaka appeared on the Roland Garros court in Paris wearing a black corset and pleated skirt that swept across the court. After removing her outerwear, Osaka revealed a custom-made, glittering gold dress. According to a compilation of foreign media reports, the dress worn by Osaka is said to have cost as much as 150,000 dollars (approximately 225 million won).

In an interview with 'TNT Sports' and others after the match, Osaka shared her thoughts, saying, "I felt it was similar to seeing the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night," and added, "I was worried that the light reflecting off the dress would be too bright, so the umpire might chase me off the court, which is why I also prepared two extra regular dresses."

Osaka further added, "Sometimes people refer to athletes as show business or entertainers, but for me, the moment I enter the Grand Slam is the only time I feel like an entertainer."

In fact, Osaka defeated Germany's Laura Siegemund 2-0 (6-3, 7-6) in the first round of the tournament and advanced to the second round.

However, Osaka's flashy presentation drew cold stares and criticism both inside and outside the stadium. On the same day, 'The Daily Mail' reported that "Osaka's Eiffel Tower dress choice sparked controversy at the French Open after receiving criticism from the defeated opponent for being problematic."

According to 'The Daily Mail' report, Siegemund, who lost the match, expressed strong dissatisfaction regarding special privileges granted only to major stars and the unfair application of rules. In an interview, Siegemund pointed out, "I came to play tennis, not to hold a fashion show. In tennis tournaments, every moment is meticulously calculated down to the second, from the moment a water bottle is taken out, yet Osaka was granted a special privilege of 1 minute and 30 seconds to change and organize her outfit."

Siegemund continued, "The flow of the match was disrupted, with the game being halted due to excessive outfit performances," and strongly criticized, "Unlike regular players who are strictly monitored at every moment, it is absolutely wrong for rules to be applied differently simply because one is a top-tier star."

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*This content was translated by AI.