Sea creatures, the Eiffel Tower and Japanese ceremonial dress by way of Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill – for Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka, the modus operandi “never let them know your next move” is as true on the court as off.
The 28-year-old has perfected the art of the grand entrance, and her day one look at this year’s US Open – met with gasps from the crowd – was no different.
The inspiration? NBA great Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Striding out at Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre for her first-round match against Anastasia Zakharova on Tuesday (AEST), Osaka wore a sweeping white tulle skirt and grey terry hoodie bearing charred newspaper clippings of her successes.
The custom look was designed by New York label Who Decides War and brought to life by Law Roach, the celebrity stylist who lists Celine Dion, Zendaya and Ariana Grande among his famous clientele.
“[Iverson] was an elite player on the court but also found a way to authentically merge culture, sports and fashion,” Osaka told Vogue.
In common with Osaka, Iverson is known for more than just his sporting prowess. The 51-year-old earned the nickname “The Answer” due to his first tattoo and role in ushering the Philadelphia 76ers into a new era.
Indeed, while the NBA (like tennis) has become synonymous with high fashion and celebrity, it wasn’t always that way.
“Iverson’s cornrows and tattoos forced the league to embrace hip-hop culture before some were ready, resulting in resistance from those craving a more corporate image and adoration from a generation that sought acceptance without conforming,” wrote the Wall Street Journal in 2016.
Osaka’s look included said cornrows, as well as the compression sleeves Iverson has been credited with making a staple in the NBA.
Osaka, born in her namesake city to a Japanese mother and Haitian father, has lived and trained in the US since the age of three – making the tournament a familiar one, despite her competing under the Japanese flag.
“The US Open has always felt like a homecoming of sorts, so I wanted to harness the energy and vibe of the city into my look. I also try to consider my kit as well, so something in the streetwear world made the most sense to me,” she told Vogue.
After co-chairing the Met Gala in 2021, Osaka has only continued to cement her status as fashion icon. In the lead up to this year’s US Open, the star staged photoshoots at Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre in designer dresses, racquet in hand.
Osaka is an ambassador for Nike, which declared basketball its theme for this year’s tournament due to the host city’s deep ties to the sport. Fellow ambassadors and competitors Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka have also donned kits inspired by the mesh of basketball uniforms.
After her grand entrance, Osaka peeled back her layers to reveal a black cropped tank with metallic skirt and white underlay.
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