Naomi Osaka has delivered another fashion statement at the 2026 US Open, and this time the tennis star's look came with an unmistakable dose of Zendaya déjà vu. Styled by Law Roach, Osaka arrived at Arthur Ashe Stadium on 3 September in a custom Thom Browne ensemble covered in tiny tennis-racquet details, immediately recalling one of Zendaya's most talked-about looks from the Challengers press tour.
The connection is particularly striking because Roach is the stylist behind both fashion moments. While there is no suggestion that Osaka's look was a direct recreation of Zendaya's 2024 Thom Browne gown, the shared stylist, designer and tennis-inspired detailing make the comparison difficult to ignore. Zendaya's Challengers wardrobe famously turned the sport into a high-fashion language, and Osaka's latest US Open appearance feels like a distinctly athletic take on that same idea.
Osaka Turns Tennis Whites Into a Fashion Statement
For her second-round appearance, Osaka layered her Nike playing kit beneath a custom Thom Browne outerwear look that was anything but conventional tennis whites.
The standout piece was a dramatic white, sheer double-collared jacket with tennis-racquet embroidery, paired with a flowing mesh overlay that extended towards the floor. The combination of traditional tailoring and exaggerated proportions gave the outfit the polished, theatrical quality associated with Thom Browne, while the racquet motifs made its sporting inspiration unmistakable.
The look also fitted neatly into Osaka's increasingly fashion-focused US Open wardrobe. Her first appearance at the tournament featured a dramatic Who Decides War ensemble inspired by basketball legend Allen Iverson, while her second outing shifted towards a more overtly tennis-related aesthetic. Roach has helped make Osaka's entrances part of the spectacle, rather than simply an extension of her competition kit.
The Tennis Racquets Bring Back Zendaya
The detail that makes Osaka's Thom Browne look feel instantly familiar is the collection of miniature tennis-racquet motifs.
In April 2024, Zendaya arrived at the London premiere of Challengers in a custom Thom Browne gown featuring embroidered tennis racquets. The dress also incorporated a dramatic drop-waist bow and strips of white netting, transforming familiar tennis references into a highly theatrical red-carpet look. Roach styled Zendaya throughout the film's press tour, helping turn the character's sporting world into a wider fashion narrative.
That history gives Osaka's racquet-covered Thom Browne layer an especially knowing quality. Both looks take one of the most recognisable symbols of tennis and place it onto a design that is far removed from standard court clothing.
Zendaya's Challengers wardrobe became synonymous with so-called method dressing, with her outfits repeatedly referencing the film and her character, Tashi Duncan. Her tennis-inspired looks ranged from custom couture to archival sportswear, making the press tour one of the most recognisable fashion campaigns of 2024.
Law Roach Brings the Fashion Story to Osaka
Roach's involvement makes the resemblance even more compelling.
The stylist, who has long been associated with Zendaya's most ambitious red-carpet moments, is now bringing a similarly narrative-driven approach to Osaka's tournament wardrobe. Vogue reported that Roach wanted to spotlight American designers during the US Open, with Thom Browne representing a particularly strong choice for the New York event.
The result is not simply about making Osaka look fashionable. It creates a visual story around the athlete, with each entrance offering something different while still belonging to the wider world of sport.
From Thom Browne to Nike
Once Osaka began her second-round match against Katerina Siniakova, the dramatic outer layer was removed to reveal her Nike playing outfit.
She competed in a tank top and pleated skirt featuring mesh detailing, completing the look with Nike Zoom GP Challenge trainers, a visor and matching wristbands. Diamond stud earrings provided a small dose of polish without interfering with the practical demands of competition.
And the fashion statement was followed by a sporting result. Osaka defeated Siniakova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 to reach the third round, recovering after dropping the second set in a match that lasted more than two hours.
Osaka's Own Tennis Fashion Era
The Zendaya comparison may be the most obvious talking point, but Osaka is developing a fashion identity of her own at Flushing Meadows. Her US Open looks have moved between basketball references, dramatic tailoring and tennis-inspired details, with Roach helping turn her tournament appearances into carefully considered fashion moments.
Rather than treating fashion as separate from her career on court, Osaka has made her arrival looks part of the spectacle, giving fans another reason to watch before the first serve is even struck.
So while those tiny Thom Browne tennis racquets may have sent Challengers fans straight back to Zendaya's 2024 press tour, Osaka's latest look ultimately belongs to her. The shared stylist and designer make the resemblance a particularly clever fashion footnote, but the bigger story is Osaka carving out her own space where sport, personality and high fashion meet.
On the court, she remains focused on another Grand Slam run. Off it, she is proving that tennis style can have a narrative all of its own, and her 2026 US Open wardrobe suggests there may be plenty more fashion moments to come.
