“For me, he’s a trailblazer,” Osaka previously said of the NBA star
Credit: Mike Stobe/Getty; Kirby Lee/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Naomi Osaka honored NBA legend Allen Iverson with a special outfit for her US Open match on Aug. 31
- The tennis player donned cornrows and a red and black headband, an homage to the basketball player’s signature look
- This marks Osaka’s first collaboration with stylist and image architect Law Roach
Naomi Osaka is paying tribute to another legendary athlete in her first look styled by Law Roach.
The four-time Grand Slam champion, 28, made a bold statement as she walked onto the court for her match against Anastasia Zakharova, wearing a meticulously crafted ensemble of a long hooded robe (which bore a variety of newspaper clippings about her) and voluminous white skirt for the ultimate dramatic entrance to the US Open.
Beneath the hood, Osaka revealed her tribute to the iconic NBA MVP Allen Iverson. Her hair was styled in intricate cornrows — Iverson’s signature style during the late 1990s into the 2000s — paired with a red and black headband, reflecting Iverson’s team, the Philadelphia 76ers.
Credit: Mike Stobe/Getty
“For me, he’s a trailblazer,” Osaka previously told ESPN’s Willie Weinbaum. “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.”
She added, “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.”
Credit: Patrick Smith/Getty
The bespoke look by Who Decides War marks Osaka’s first time being styled by Law Roach, the image architect best known for his work with Zendaya. Roach commissioned the look.
In a post on Instagram, Roach showcased Osaka’s ensemble with photos by Sebastian Arriagada and later shared a video of the tennis player’s entrance on his Instagram Stories. Over the video, he wrote, “Let’s go @naomiosaka.”
Credit: Robert Prange/Getty
Following Osaka’s US Open entrance, Iverson responded to the tennis player’s tribute to him. In a post on Instagram, Iverson shared Osaka’s previous comments about his style and wrote in the caption, “Wow, what an honor!! BIG FAN can’t wait to meet you.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Tennis Channel later reported that Osaka’s second look of the tournament was also styled by Roach, which the stylist confirmed by sharing the outlet’s post on his Instagram Stories. The look by Jacquemus took on an elegant vibe, with black sheer fabric and detailed embroidery comprising a flowy, floor-length gown. The tennis star accessorized the look with a pair of rounded sunglasses and, of course, her tennis racket.
Read the full article here
