Day: September 2, 2026

Naomi Osaka’s US Open entrance brought an Allen Iverson-inspired fashion concept to Arthur Ashe Stadium before the two-time champion defeated Anastasia Zakharova in straight sets. Styled by Law Roach and dressed by Who Decides War, Osaka connected basketball references, New York streetwear and her own career imagery in one pre-match reveal.

Key Takeaways

• Osaka entered Arthur Ashe Stadium in a custom Who Decides War look styled by Law Roach before changing into her Nike match kit
• The entrance referenced Allen Iverson through cornrows, a headband, arm sleeves and basketball-influenced styling
• Who Decides War designers Téla D’Amore and Ev Bravado said they had roughly 30 hours to develop the custom look
• Osaka defeated Anastasia Zakharova 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3) in the first round on Aug. 31

Naomi Osaka’s US Open Entrance Centers an Iverson Tribute

NEW YORK, Aug. 31, 2026. Naomi Osaka walked into Arthur Ashe Stadium for her first-round US Open match wearing a long white tulle skirt with a gray hooded layer covered in newspaper clippings tied to her career. After removing the outer look, she revealed her Nike match outfit and hair styled in cornrows beneath a headband, details that pointed directly to Allen Iverson’s familiar playing-era appearance.

The reference was deliberate. After beating Anastasia Zakharova, Osaka described the look as “my, I guess, my tribute to Iverson,” according to Associated Press reporting. She had also appeared at pre-tournament media availability in a shirt featuring Iverson and described the Basketball Hall of Famer as a figure she associates with style and self-expression in sports.

The result placed the fashion story beside a competitive one rather than apart from it. Osaka, who won the US Open in 2018 and 2020, opened this year’s tournament with a 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3) victory. Tennis.com recorded 11 aces for Osaka, while both sets were decided in tiebreaks.

The entrance also arrived at a tournament where basketball references were part of Nike’s design direction. Osaka said that theme prompted her to lean into basketball, while the Iverson details gave the broader concept a specific figure and recognizable visual vocabulary.

That combination also placed the appearance within the wider New York fashion scene, where athletic clothing and streetwear regularly appear alongside more formal design. Osaka’s entrance did not depend on that broader context to make its reference clear, but the New York setting was consistent with the styling choices behind it.

Who Decides War Builds the Look Around New York Streetwear

Who Decides War, the New York-based label led by Téla D’Amore and Ev Bravado, created Osaka’s walk-on outfit. Sky Sports identified Law Roach as the stylist behind the appearance, while Marie Claire reported that the designers worked from references supplied by Osaka and Roach.

The garment paired a voluminous tulle skirt with a distressed French-terry hoodie treatment. Newspaper imagery was incorporated into the outer layer, turning moments from Osaka’s career into part of the design. D’Amore and Bravado said the imagery represented both accomplishments and setbacks, adding a biographical component without separating the garment from its sporting setting.

The turnaround was compressed. The designers said they had roughly 30 hours to develop the concept after receiving two Iverson reference images from Osaka and Roach. That timeline adds context to a highly constructed walk-on look prepared for one of the tournament’s most visible stadium entrances.

The hooded component also drew from a broader design vocabulary surrounding streetwear and hoodies, where oversized proportions and athletic garments can move beyond strictly functional sportswear. In Osaka’s case, the hoodie remained closely connected to the Iverson reference rather than functioning as a separate fashion statement.

New York was also part of the creative brief. Reporting on the collaboration described Osaka’s interest in connecting the city’s streetwear character with her tournament kit. Instead of wearing an unrelated arrival outfit, the custom garment worked as a removable layer that led directly into the clothes she would compete in.

The construction gave the entrance a clear visual sequence. Osaka arrived with the hood up and the longer outer layer visible, then removed it before play. The shift exposed the basketball-influenced details underneath and made the Iverson reference clearer as she prepared for the match.

The Fashion Reveal Leads Into a Two-Tiebreak Win

Once play started, the first-round match developed into a tighter contest than the straight-sets result might suggest. Osaka and Zakharova reached tiebreaks in both sets, with Osaka winning the first 8-6 and the second 7-3. The final score was 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3).

The match statistics offered another measure of the contest. Tennis.com recorded 11 aces for Osaka and none for Zakharova. Both players converted four of seven break-point opportunities, while Osaka finished with the advantage needed in the two tiebreaks.

That result kept the entrance from becoming the only story attached to Osaka’s night. The former world No. 1 advanced through a first round in which neither set was settled before a tiebreak, creating a direct transition from the carefully planned arrival to the competitive purpose of the evening.

The Iverson reference also received a response from the athlete who inspired it. People reported that Iverson acknowledged Osaka’s tribute publicly on Instagram and indicated that he wanted to meet her. The response added another documented element to the fashion story without changing the central result of the night.

For Osaka, the entrance continued a pattern of treating major-tournament apparel as part of the presentation surrounding her matches while keeping the clothing connected to a specific idea. Here, the reference was identifiable rather than abstract. Iverson’s hair, headband, arm sleeve and relationship with basketball style supplied the foundation, while Who Decides War and Roach translated those references into Osaka’s US Open setting.

The Naomi Osaka US Open entrance ultimately brought together three verified elements: a custom Who Decides War walk-on design, Law Roach’s styling and a direct Allen Iverson reference carried through the clothing, hair and accessories. The night also ended with a measurable sporting result, as Osaka advanced after two closely contested tiebreak sets at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Naomi Osaka wear for her 2026 US Open entrance?

Osaka entered Arthur Ashe Stadium in a custom Who Decides War look featuring a white tulle skirt and a gray hooded layer decorated with newspaper imagery connected to her career. She removed the outer garment before competing in her Nike match kit.

Why did Naomi Osaka reference Allen Iverson?

Osaka said the look was a tribute to Iverson and had previously described him as an athlete she associates with fashion and self-expression in sports. The Naomi Osaka US Open entrance included cornrows, a headband and arm-sleeve details associated with Iverson’s playing-era appearance.

Who styled Naomi Osaka for the US Open?

Law Roach styled Osaka’s first-round entrance. Who Decides War designers Téla D’Amore and Ev Bravado created the custom walk-on look.

Did Naomi Osaka win her first-round match?

Yes. Osaka defeated Anastasia Zakharova 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3) at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Aug. 31, 2026, advancing in straight sets after two tiebreaks.