French Open: Naomi Osaka responds to 'fashion show' jibe with another bold entrance at Roland-Garros

Former world No 1 Naomi Osaka ‌made another dazzling entry at the French Open on Thursday, but she ‌was made to work hard to avoid the exit ​door in a 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 victory over Croatian Donna Vekic in the second round.

The No 16 seed's outfit for her first-round match drew plenty of attention - but left her opponent unimpressed: Germany's Laura Siegemund saying she was "not here for a fashion show" after exiting the tournament in a straight-sets defeat to the four-time Grand Slam champion.

Osaka wore a sequined ‌waistcoat blouse and black mesh train over her layered yellow-brown and ​gold match dress in the opening round, and despite the criticism arrived for the contest with Vekic in a white ​floor-length flared train over her outfit.

"I like to keep people on their toes. I think it's really fun," Osaka said following her second-round victory.

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"There's a community that I feel like has been built over my on-court outfits, so I just like to keep you guys guessing. I really enjoy that you guys enjoy it."

On another blazing hot day in ⁠Paris, the Japanese player traded breaks freely with Vekic in the opening ‌set on Court Simonne-Mathieu, before finding her best form during the tie-break to prevail for the ‌loss of only one point.

Osaka saved ​a break point in the second set to ⁠close out the win in one hour and 50 minutes, reaching the third round for the ⁠first time since 2019.

She will ​face 16th-seed Iva Jovic next after the American beat compatriot Emma Navarro 6-0 6-3 earlier.

Earlier this year at the Australian Open, Osaka walked on wearing a wide-brim hat, a veil and holding a white parasol.

And at last year's US Open, she had sparkly red roses in her ponytail above her red outfit and even a matching Labubu that she named 'Billie Jean Bling'.

So how does Osaka switch her focus from her grand entrances to playing a tennis match minutes later?

"I'm a little used to it now," she said. "The US Open, the roses in my hair, that's when I started to really get into it a lot more. Obviously with Australia, that was a real conversation starter. So I don't really feel like it's too much of a big deal to do that and then play after.

"Athletes are in show business. Grand Slam walk-ons are the only time that I possibly feel like I'm an entertainer."

'I wasn't scared for my life' - Osaka on car accident in Paris before second-round win

Speaking after the match, Osaka also gave an account of a car accident she was involved in in Paris, as a bus reversed into the vehicle she was travelling in.

"I wasn't scared for my life, but I was just like: 'Whoa, this bus is really backing up into us', and you could hear the car crunching. Yeah, that was a really interesting situation. So I hope it doesn't happen again today."

Osaka was also asked about reports that 23-time major winner Serena Williams is set to come out of retirement to play doubles at Queen's and return to Wimbledon, a tournament she won seven times, next month.

"The scope of it, I think it will bring people to watch tennis, which she always does bring an audience with her. So, yeah, I think it's good", said Osaka about the 44-year-old American.

"I feel like for me everyone knows Serena and Venus (Williams) were my role models growing up, so it's going to be cool to see her on the grounds again."

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