Do you feel like the expectation to be more than an athlete from the public has grown?
I can only speak for myself, but I don’t feel that pressure as it’s something I naturally do. I’ve seen people asking players to talk about issues and it clearly makes them uncomfortable, so it depends on the athlete.
The first time your style on the court really caught my attention was when you worked with AMBUSH’s Yoon Ahn in 2024. I feel like on the tennis court, showing off one’s personal style was big in the ’80s and the ’90s. But over the past few decades, it’s reverted to something more classic, no?
Honestly, I have to agree with you. I definitely think that outfit was when it clicked for me — that I can start being myself more. Even before that point, my outfits were a little bit different from traditional tennis outfits, but I didn’t go fully out or commit to the bit. And then with Yoon, I love everything about her and her personal style, so I just wanted to do it justice. Our [mutual] Japanese culture also came together. That allowed me to understand that I’m shy in real life, but I don’t have to be shy when I’m going on the court in a really cool outfit.
Do you think showing that different part of your personality has an effect on your opponent?
I don’t really think about what my opponent thinks. I really respect people that dress differently or even have the courage to do anything out of the ordinary, which is why I love the tennis players that I looked up to, because they wore things that I remember. As a kid, I was the fashion girl who loved all the grand reveals. Often, whenever I wear an outfit, like the Australian Open outfit just now, most of the players come up to me and talk about it. They seem intrigued.
AloJapan.com