Naomi Osaka knows how to make a statement on a court with her play, and she obviously can do the same with her pre-game outfits. That much was proven ahead of her first-round match at the 2026 US Open against Anastasia Zakharova, when the 28-year-old arrived with her own tip of the cap to NBA legend Allen Iverson.
Osaka wore a long hooded, white/light gray custom fit for her arrival, complete with a red sweatband on her left arm and a black Nike sleeve on her right. She also wore a black-and-red headband and an all-black outfit for her match with Zakharova, all of which gave Iverson vibes and matched the colors of his longtime NBA team, the Philadelphia. 76ers (from when he played) and the Nike arm sleeve, which Iverson was among the first to wear
during games.
Following the match, Osaka explained her decision to pay homage to Iverson, as Ball Is Life detailed.
“For me, he’s a trailblazer," Osaka said. "He’s also someone 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. I also think the whole conversation around clothes in sports, and also just expressing yourself through style. He’s someone I look up to in that regard.”
It's a great breakdown of why Osaka chose to honor Iverson with a unique outfit ahead of her US Open match, and it's safe to say we could see a few more custom pre-match looks from her throughout the event.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Naomi Osaka explained the unique Allen Iverson inspiration behind her US Open fit
