Naomi Osaka arrived at the US Open with her characteristic flair, deliberately echoing the style of former NBA great Allen Iverson. The two-time champion stepped out of the tunnel at Arthur Ashe Stadium wearing a flowing white skirt layered over a hooded robe that was printed with newspaper clippings about her own career. When she peeled away the robe to reveal a sleek black ensemble underneath, she had her hair fashioned into cornrows—a signature look that Iverson popularized during his MVP season with the Philadelphia 76ers. The visual tribute was more than a fashion statement; it was a clear nod to a player Osaka admires both for his on‑court achievements and his off‑court influence.
"It’s my tribute to Iverson. I really like him a lot," Osaka explained after her match.
"Nike said basketball, so I said, ‘Okay, you want basketball, I’ll give you basketball.’" Osaka’s outfit didn’t stop at the court. In the media zone the day before her opening match, she wore a shirt emblazoned with Iverson’s portrait and called the former star a "trailblazer." She elaborated, "I think he’s also someone that I look up to a lot, because he’s kind of done a lot in fashion, whether it’s on purpose or not, but he’s shifted the way NBA players dress." Osaka added that the broader conversation about athletes using clothing as a form of personal expression resonates with her, noting that Iverson helped spark that dialogue within the sport. The tribute was timely, as Iverson himself responded on Instagram with an enthusiastic comment: "Wow, what an honor!! BIG FAN can’t wait to meet you." Though the two have never spoken directly, the exchange underscored the mutual respect between the tennis prodigy and the basketball legend.
On the court, Osaka justified her bold entrance with a hard‑fought victory. She edged past Anastasia Zakharova in a tightly contested match, winning 7‑6 (8‑6), 7‑6 (7‑3).
The first set saw both players holding serve until Osaka finally broke through in the tiebreak, and she repeated the pattern in the second set, displaying composure under pressure that belied the high‑octane atmosphere of her entrance. Beyond Osaka’s story, the opening day of the US Open featured several other notable performances.
Former champion Iga Swiatek, seeded eighth, cruised past China’s Wang Xiyu 6‑2, 6‑3, marking a solid start to her campaign. Swiatek, who captured a title in Toronto earlier in the month and reached the Cincinnati semi‑finals, expressed confidence: "It was a good day in the office.
I felt pretty good right from the beginning and I had the energy and the intensity. I want to keep it that way." She highlighted the importance of improving the small details of her game as she aims for a seventh Grand Slam crown. In the men’s draw, American Ben Shelton, also seeded eighth, recovered from a disastrous first set loss to dominate Tallon Griekspoor 1‑6, 6‑1, 7‑6 (7‑3), 6‑2. Shelton, who hopes to become the first American man to win the US Open since 2003, described his nerves early on but said he found his rhythm by the second set.
He praised Griekspoor’s aggressive style, noting that the Dutch player “doesn’t give you a lot of rhythm,” which made the opening set particularly challenging. Veteran Stan Wawrinka, playing his final Grand Slam before retirement, fell to Italy’s Matteo Berrettini 7‑6 (7‑4), 7‑6 (7‑3), 6‑0. The 41‑year‑old reflected on his two‑decade history at Flushing Meadows, saying, "It’s been 20 years since the first time I came here. It was amazing for me to feel the New York vibes throughout the years.
I found the way to play my best tennis here." Berrettini, a 2019 semi‑finalist, will meet Argentine Mariano Navone in the next round after Navone produced the tournament’s biggest upset by eliminating fourth‑seed Novak Djokovic in a five‑set thriller. The US Open continues to deliver drama both on and off the court, with athletes using fashion, social media, and performance to craft narratives that extend beyond the matches themselves.
Osaka’s Iverson‑inspired look illustrates how modern tennis players draw inspiration from other sports and cultural icons, turning a simple outfit into a statement about individuality, respect, and the evolving relationship between athletics and style. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports, stream matches without a contract on NOW, or catch highlights and analysis on the Sky Sports app.
The tournament runs through early September, culminating in the finals that will determine the next champions of tennis’s most prestigious hard‑court event.