Naomi Osaka unveiled a striking Allen Iverson-inspired walk-on outfit at the 2026 US Open on Monday night, pairing cornrow braids with a Who Decides War hooded robe covered in career press clippings before defeating Anastasia Zakharova in straight sets at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Paying Homage to a Basketball Trailblazer
Tennis fashion at Grand Slam tournaments often adheres to strict visual boundaries, but Naomi Osaka has spent years rewriting those expectations. For her opening-night entrance in New York, Osaka arrived in a voluminous white tulle ball-gown skirt and a long grey hooded jacket adorned with newspaper clippings documenting her professional milestones. Styled by Law Roach, the dramatic outer layer eventually peeled away to reveal a black Nike tennis ensemble. The look was designed by New York label Who Decides War, featuring a basketball-inspired top along with signature head and arm bands in the Philadelphia 76ers’ red and black.
The look was a direct tribute to Allen Iverson, whose cultural impact during his playing days helped redefine how athletes express themselves away from the court. Osaka completed her walk-on presentation with cornrow braids, mirroring the guard’s signature appearance from his Philadelphia 76ers career. Nike said basketball so I said, I’ll give you basketball,
Osaka said during her on-court interview.
Channeling ’90s Nostalgia Across the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
The tribute extended well beyond a single entrance. For the U.S. Open, Osaka has expanded her vision to photo shoots around the Billie Jean King Tennis Center and a series of mostly self-styled pre-practice looks. One of them, which she wore at the tournament’s media center, was a Dolce & Gabbana dress styled by Law Roach, who also curated her walk-on outfit for the season’s Grand Slam finale. She had already made it clear that Allen Iverson was her fashion inspiration for this year’s US Open, even wearing a shirt featuring the former Philadelphia 76ers star when she met the media.
Osaka explained that her admiration for Iverson stems from his willingness to challenge sports conventions. In 2026, she wore a jellyfish-inspired aqua outfit at the Australian Open, a series of overskirts and a glittering bronze dress meant to mimic the Eiffel Tower at the French Open, and a meticulously embroidered, snow-white kimono ensemble at Wimbledon.
For me, he's a trailblazer. I think he's also someone that I look up to a lot because he's kind of like done a lot in fashion, whether it's on purpose or not, but he's shifted the way that NBA players dress. And I also think like the whole conversation around clothes in sports and also just expressing yourself through style. I feel like he's someone that I look up to in that regard, Osaka said
Navigating a Hard-Fought Opening Victory
While the entrance captured global attention, Osaka’s labor on the court proved considerably more demanding against Anastasia Zakharova. The Japanese 13th seed, who won the Flushing Meadows title in 2018 and 2020, faltered after a strong start and ultimately needed to dig deep to see off Zakharova. Osaka broke at the first opportunity to take a 2-0 lead in the opener and although she was unable to convert another chance to go 4-0 ahead, still looked comfortable when she moved 5-2 up. However, Zakharova showed heart as she rallied to take the opener into a tie-break and fought back from another early break down in the second.
Osaka’s superb serve came to the fore as she opened up a commanding 5-1 lead in the second tie-break, going on to complete victory just before 00:30 local time and avoiding the need for a deciding set, winning her 7-6(6), 7-6(3) first-round match Monday night against Anastasia Zakharova. Reflecting on the match, she emphasized her motivation.
I wanted to play well because I wanted to show you guys some more outfits,
she said. I love expressing myself through clothes – because I don't like talking too much.
Naomi Osaka, via Wolipop
Looking Ahead to the Second Round
With her opening test cleared, the former world number one will face the Czech Republic’s Katerina Siniakova in the second round on Wednesday, September 2, though a time has not officially been set for the match. As she prepares to return to the grounds, Osaka offered fans a simple promise regarding her future appearances at Flushing Meadows and promised her fans there will be another sartorial surprise.
Naomi Osaka, via BBC
