Naomi Osaka turned heads during her opening match at the 2026 US Open by stepping onto the court in a striking ensemble that paid homage to former NBA superstar Allen Iverson. The 28-year-old Japanese star emerged from the tunnel in Arthur Ashe Stadium wearing a custom Who Decides War tulle gown with a hooded top featuring sewn-in newspaper clippings of her career highlights, according to The Athletic and the New York Post.
Naomi Osaka Debuts Allen Iverson Tribute Outfit at the 2026 US Open
When Osaka removed the hooded robe, she revealed a black-on-black Nike kit with a vintage NBA jersey feel and a metallic skirt with a basket-like texture underneath. She completed the look with her hair styled in cornrows pulled back into a bun, mimicking Iverson’s iconic style from his days as NBA MVP with the Philadelphia 76ers. The look was styled by Law Roach and aligned with Nike’s basketball-inspired collection for the tournament.
It's my, I guess, my tribute to Iverson. I really like him a lot,
Osaka said following her match, as reported by ESPN. I mean, Nike said basketball, so I said, 'OK, you want basketball, I'll give you basketball.'
First-Round Victory Over Anastasia Zakharova
On the court, the 13th seed had to work hard to secure her spot in the second round, overcoming Russia’s Anastasia Zakharova 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3) in a late-night battle that ended just before 0:30 local time, according to the BBC. Zakharova pushed the former world number one to a tie-break in both sets.
Osaka broke early to take a 2-0 lead in the opening set and built a 5-2 advantage before Zakharova rallied. In the second-set tie-break, Osaka used her powerful serve—hitting a 121 mph ace that ignited a 5-0 run—to command a 5-1 lead before closing out the straight-sets victory. Her serve maxed out at 122 mph during the match.
I would say it took everything,
Osaka said during her on-court interview. I have no idea what time it is, so thanks for staying.
Fashion Inspiration and Iverson’s Reaction
Ahead of the tournament, Osaka wore a T-shirt featuring Iverson to her media session and praised the former player as a trailblazer. She noted that his influence on fashion and the way NBA players dress made him a major style icon for her.
Though the two had never communicated prior to the event, Iverson quickly took notice of the tribute, writing on his Instagram page: Wow, what an honor!! BIG FAN can’t wait to meet you.
Osaka, a two-time US Open champion who previously won the tournament in 2018 and 2020, promised fans that more sartorial surprises are to come as she advances to face the Czech Republic’s Katerina Siniakova in the second round. 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.
