Naomi Osaka turned her 2026 US Open entrance into one of the tournament’s early talking points, channeling NBA legend Allen Iverson before battling through a difficult first-round victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Naomi Osaka’s Allen Iverson inspired look for the 2026 US Open has so many details.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 1, 2026
Whether you love it or hate it, no one is doing fashion in tennis like her.
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The two-time US Open champion walked onto court in a dramatic custom outfit inspired by Iverson’s influence on sports, fashion and athlete self-expression. Minutes later, Osaka shifted the attention back to tennis, defeating Anastasia Zakharova 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-3) to advance to the second round.
The combination of Osaka’s elaborate entrance, her Iverson-inspired styling and a tense straight-sets win quickly became one of the most talked-about moments from the opening days of the tournament.
Naomi Osaka channels Allen Iverson at the US Open
Osaka emerged from the Arthur Ashe Stadium tunnel wearing a long white skirt and a gray hooded outer layer decorated with newspaper-style clippings referencing moments from her career.
When the outer layer came off, another part of the tribute became clear. Osaka wore her hair in cornrows, a style closely associated with Iverson during his years as one of the NBA’s most influential stars.
The look was created by New York label Who Decides War and styled by celebrity stylist Law Roach. According to Vogue, designers Téla D’Amore and Ev Bravado had roughly 30 hours to develop the custom piece.
The design mixed tulle and sportswear elements, while the newspaper-style details referenced Osaka’s own career. It was designed to connect the energy of New York with Iverson’s impact on athlete fashion and individuality.
Osaka had already signaled that Iverson would play a role in her US Open story. During tournament media day, she appeared wearing a throwback Iverson shirt and explained why the former Philadelphia 76ers star had been an influence.
Speaking before the tournament, Osaka described Iverson as a “trailblazer” and pointed to the way he helped change conversations around how professional athletes dress and express themselves.
The tribute eventually reached Iverson himself. The Basketball Hall of Famer responded publicly on Instagram, saying he was a fan of Osaka and hoped to meet her.
The official US Open website also highlighted Osaka’s entrance as one of the notable fashion moments from the tournament.
For readers following other major sports stories this week, our coverage of Lionel Messi’s international retirement announcement has also been drawing attention as another major development across the sporting world.
Osaka survives a tougher opening match than the score suggests
Once the spectacle of the entrance ended, Osaka had a difficult match to negotiate.
The Japanese star, seeded No. 13 at the tournament, appeared to be moving comfortably through the opening set when she built a 5-2 advantage. Zakharova refused to let the match drift away, however, recovering to force a tiebreak.
Osaka eventually took the opening-set breaker 8-6, but the pattern repeated in the second set.
She again moved into a strong position at 5-3, only for Zakharova to fight back and eventually move ahead 6-5. Osaka then held serve and took control of the second tiebreak, winning it 7-3 to close the match in just over two hours.
Osaka’s serve played a major role in the victory. She finished with 11 aces and won a high percentage of points behind her first serve, giving her the edge when both sets reached their most important moments.
The victory continues Osaka’s pursuit of a third title in New York. She previously won the US Open in 2018 and 2020 and remains one of the most closely watched players whenever she returns to Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Her latest entrance also continues a broader trend in Osaka’s Grand Slam appearances. Fashion has increasingly become part of the presentation surrounding her matches, with previous tournament looks drawing inspiration from Japanese culture, cinema and personal themes.
At Wimbledon earlier this season, Osaka arrived in a kimono-inspired outfit connected to her Japanese heritage. Her US Open look moved in a different direction, drawing on Iverson and the relationship between sport, street culture and fashion.
That connection is significant because Iverson’s influence went far beyond basketball. During his NBA career, his braids, headbands, oversized clothing and refusal to conform to traditional expectations helped reshape the visual identity of professional basketball.
For Osaka, the reference fits naturally with her own approach to tennis. She has repeatedly used clothing and design as a form of personal expression while competing on some of the sport’s biggest stages.
The important sporting detail, however, is that the fashion story did not overshadow her result.
After surviving Zakharova’s repeated comebacks, Osaka is through to the second round of the 2026 US Open and remains in contention for another deep run at the tournament where she won her first Grand Slam title.
Readers following major international sports developments can also see our latest coverage of UNC vs TCU and Bill Belichick’s Dublin appearance, another story that generated strong interest among sports fans.
For official scores, schedules and tournament updates, readers can follow the 2026 US Open.
Editor’s note: This story was prepared using tournament information available on September 1, 2026, and may be updated as Naomi Osaka’s US Open campaign continues.
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