Naomi Osaka stepped onto the Arthur Ashe Stadium court at the US Open with a striking look that deliberately echoed the style of former NBA star Allen Iverson, turning her entrance into a fashion statement as much as a tennis debut. The two‑time US Open champion emerged from the tunnel wearing a flowing white skirt paired with a hooded robe that was plastered with newspaper clippings about her own career, a visual cue that hinted at a narrative beyond the match itself. When she slipped off the robe to reveal a sleek black tennis ensemble underneath, Osaka's hair was fashioned into cornrows, directly mirroring the iconic hairstyle Iverson sported during his MVP season with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The homage was not merely superficial; Osaka explained that it was a personal tribute. "It's my, I guess, my tribute to Iverson.
I really like him a lot," she said in a post‑match interview. "Nike said basketball, so I said, 'OK, you want basketball, I'll give you basketball.'" By integrating elements of basketball culture into her tennis attire, Osaka highlighted the growing dialogue about athletes expressing themselves through fashion, a conversation that Iverson helped to ignite in the early 2000s.
The outfit proved more than a visual flourish; it accompanied a hard‑fought victory that saw Osaka advance to the second round after a tight contest with Russia's Anastasia Zakharova. The match unfolded in two tie‑break sets, with Osaka clinching both 7‑6 (8‑6) and 7‑6 (7‑3).
Zakharova pushed the Japanese star to the limit, forcing her to dig deep both mentally and physically, but Osaka's composure under pressure allowed her to prevail. After the win, she reflected on the broader significance of her look, noting that Iverson had become a "trailblazer" not only on the basketball court but also in the realm of style. "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 that NBA players dress," Osaka said.
She added that the conversation around clothing in sport has evolved, and she sees Iverson as a key influence in that shift. "I also think 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," she continued. Although Osaka and Iverson have never spoken directly, the basketball legend responded to her tribute on Instagram, posting a short message that read: "Wow, what a honor!!
BIG FAN can't wait to meet you." The exchange underscored the mutual respect between two athletes from different disciplines who share a passion for pushing the boundaries of personal expression. Osaka's fashion moment occurred alongside other notable storylines at the tournament.
Former champion Iga Swiatek, the Polish eighth seed, opened her campaign with a confident 6‑2 6‑3 win over China's Wang Xiyu, securing her place in the second round. Swiatek, who captured her first title of an otherwise erratic season in Toronto and reached the semi‑finals in Cincinnati, spoke about feeling "good right from the beginning" and emphasized the importance of maintaining intensity and energy throughout her matches. She also highlighted her ongoing work to refine the finer aspects of her game, especially on a surface that has historically challenged her.
On the men's side, American Ben Shelton, seeded eighth, rebounded from a shaky start to defeat Tallon Griekspoor 1‑6 6‑1 7‑6 (7‑3) 6‑2 in a four‑set battle. Shelton, who hopes to become the first American man to capture the US Open title since 2003, entered New York riding a wave of momentum after successfully defending his Canadian Open crown earlier in the month.
He described his early nerves and the adjustments he made in the second set, noting that Griekspoor's aggressive style made the first set particularly difficult. "I started off a little bit nervous tonight, but I found my rhythm at some point through the second set," Shelton said, acknowledging the credit due to his opponent for testing him early on. The tournament also featured a poignant moment for Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka, who faced Italy's Matteo Berrettini in a match that turned out to be his final Grand Slam appearance before retirement at the end of the season. Wawrinka fell 7‑6 (7‑4) 7‑6 (7‑3) 6‑0, reflecting on two decades of New York memories: "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 semi‑finalist in 2019, will move on to face Argentine Mariano Navone, who stunned fourth‑seed Novak Djokovic in a five‑set upset. Osaka's tribute to Iverson, therefore, resonated beyond a single match. It highlighted the intersection of sport, fashion, and personal identity, illustrating how modern athletes use their platforms to honor influences from other fields while shaping their own narratives.
Her performance, combined with the compelling storylines of Swiatek, Shelton, and Wawrinka, set the stage for a US Open that promises both high‑quality tennis and cultural moments that extend far beyond the baseline.