Naomi Osaka has once again proved that her Grand Slam entrances are about more than tennis. For her first-round appearance at the 2026 US Open, the four-time Grand Slam champion turned the court into her own fashion runway, paying tribute to basketball legend Allen Iverson with a dramatic look that blended tennis, basketball, and New York street style.
Ahead of her night-session match against Anastasia Zakharova at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Osaka arrived in a custom ensemble by New York-based label Who Decides War, styled by Law Roach. The look featured a hooded grey tunic layered over a flowing white tulle skirt, with newspaper clippings referencing important moments from Osaka’s career sewn into the garment.
But the real tribute became clear when Osaka removed the outer layer.
Underneath was a black Nike look with a vintage basketball feel, paired with cornrows, a headband, and arm sleeves. The styling deliberately referenced Iverson’s unmistakable image during his NBA career, particularly his cornrows and the sleeves that became closely associated with him.
For Osaka, the inspiration was personal.
The tennis star has described Iverson as a trailblazer whose influence extended beyond basketball and into the way athletes think about clothing and self-expression. She has also credited him with helping shift the way NBA players approached fashion.
And the connection was particularly fitting for this year’s US Open, where Nike has incorporated basketball-inspired elements into its athlete looks. Osaka summed up her approach simply after her match: Nike wanted basketball, so she decided to give them basketball.
The look also carried a distinctly personal touch. According to Vogue, Osaka, Roach and Who Decides War designers Téla D’Amore and Ev Bravado had only about 30 hours to create the custom piece. The design drew from Iverson’s relaxed sweatsuit aesthetic while incorporating the designers’ own fashion language and Osaka’s career history.
And then came the tennis
Osaka’s entrance may have stolen attention, but she still had business to handle on court.
The No. 13 seed defeated Zakharova 7-6(6), 7-6(3) in a tightly contested first-round match that finished after midnight in New York. Osaka fought through two tiebreaks to secure her place in the second round.
The win means Osaka, who lifted the US Open trophy in 2018 and 2020, moves on to face Czech player Kateřina Siniaková.
Interestingly, Iverson himself noticed the tribute. After Osaka’s look made the rounds, the NBA Hall of Famer responded on Instagram, expressing his excitement and saying he hoped to meet her.
For Osaka, however, the outfit was never simply about recreating an iconic basketball look. It was about what Iverson represented: the freedom to express personality through fashion, even in a world where athletes are often expected to fit neatly into a uniform.
That is what makes the Naomi Osaka US Open outfit so memorable. The look brought together a basketball icon, a tennis superstar, New York energy, and Osaka’s own fashion identity in one statement.
And judging by her comment after the match, she is not finished yet. Osaka said she wanted to play well partly because she wanted to give fans the chance to see more of her outfits as the tournament continues.
