Naomi Osaka Turns Heads with Sakura-Themed Nails in Roland Garros Loss
Naomi Osaka Blends Japanese Heritage with Eye-Catching Style at Roland Garros
Naomi Osaka entered this year’s Roland Garros not just ready to play tennis but also ready to make a bold statement. When she took the court against Paula Badosa, all eyes weren’t just on the scoreboard—they were on her hands. Those sakura-themed nails, with intricate cherry blossom designs, put Japanese tradition front and center. Osaka paired the look with custom Nike shoes inspired by the same theme, creating a coordinated aesthetic that nodded to spring and her roots.
But tennis tournaments aren’t runway shows. As the match wore on, Osaka’s on-court attention went from serves and rallies to the tips of her fingers—literally. Photographers and TV cameras caught her carefully clipping her nails between games, a move that was part practical (long nails can be a headache during play) and partly a tiny performance in itself. The moment caught fire online, with fans and commentators weighing in on whether the look (and the maintenance) set her apart or just distracted from her game.
Struggles on Clay Continue Amid Mental Health Reflections
All the talk about style couldn’t cover up the match’s harsh numbers. Osaka racked up 54 unforced errors across three sets, losing 6-7(1), 6-1, 6-4. Clay is a surface known to frustrate even top pros, and it’s no secret that Osaka has often found it unforgiving. For anyone following her career, this fits with a pattern—enigmatic skill, flashes of brilliance, but repeated difficulties converting those into wins on clay. The defeat follows previous early-round exits in Paris, leaving Osaka still chasing that elusive clay-court breakthrough.
Beyond her performance, Osaka’s time in Paris always draws added attention because of her high-profile mental health advocacy. She famously withdrew from Roland Garros in 2021, thrusting the issue into the spotlight and re-shaping the conversation around athlete well-being. Even as the cameras zeroed in on her manicure, Osaka’s openness about off-court struggles and mental health pressures reminded everyone there’s more to the story than just wins and losses, or even style statements.
After her latest appearance, it’s clear: wherever Osaka plays, she sets her own terms. Whether she’s sporting sakura nails or speaking candidly on tough topics, she finds a way to stand out—sometimes for her fashion, sometimes for her honesty, and always for being unapologetically herself.