Naomi Osaka Reveals Why She Hid Her Braids Ahead of US Open Match

Naomi Osaka is into the third round of the 2026 US Open. After surviving a scare in the first round against Anastasia Zakharova, Osaka overcame Katerina Siniakova in three sets in the second round and reached the third round of a Major for the fourth time this season.

Osaka turned heads when she walked onto Arthur Ashe Stadium donning a long white skirt and hoodie, underneath which she sported a black Nike outfit. When she removed her hoodie, her clean cornrows were revealed.

At the pre-tournament press conference, Osaka covered her head with a durag. And when a journalist told her he had never seen a tennis player wear a durag, Osaka seemed surprised and explained that nothing inspired the durag, that it was simply her hairstylist’s idea that she followed.

Then at the press conference after her latest match, the four-time Grand Slam champion was again asked this: “I know like in your first round press conference, you mentioned like wanting to hide your braids. Is that more so like for the reveal of it all?” Osaka broke into laughter before making things clear that she hid it so that she could reveal her hairstyle later.

I just want to be very clear. Vanessa is a Black woman [laughter]. And no, it was hiding the braids was like… because I didn’t want anyone to see, like, the design. That’s what it was.

Osaka actually paid tribute to NBA great Allen Iverson through her basketball-themed outfit and hairstyle, calling him a fashion trailblazer who has “shifted the way that NBA players dress“.

Back to her matches, Osaka will next be locking horns with 23rd seed Elise Mertens, against whom she holds a 6-3 head-to-head lead, also winning their last two matches, in the round of 16 of the Bad Homburg Open and the third round of the Canadian Open this season. Mertens went past Kaitlin Quevedo in the first round and Maria Timofeeva in the second round.

Naomi Osaka recalls playing her career’s first Grand Slam tournament

Naomi Osaka played her career’s first Grand Slam main draw match at the 2016 Australian Open after winning the qualifying matches. Two years later, she clinched her career’s first Grand Slam title at the US Open.

Osaka, who is chasing her third title at Flushing Meadows, was asked at the press conference following her latest win about the whole experience of playing the Majors as a newcomer.

I think I played Qualies of Australia, right? Yeah. Is that the one that I played [Elina] Svitolina? I just I don’t know. I felt like a young kid, just kind of looking up to all of these professionals because I didn’t think of myself as professional at the time, and it was just so much fun, especially Australia.

Osaka last won a Major at the 2021 Australian Open, but since then, she has yet to win another tour-level title. She has played four finals since then, including at the Bad Homburg Open this year (reached her career’s first final on grass).

Like, I always watched on TV, but I’ve never been there, so I remember, like, going on the site and trying to experience everything in person, but yeah, it was definitely a lot of fun memories.

Naomi Osaka added

If Osaka reaches the fourth round, she could lock horns with World No.2 Elena Rybakina, whom she met for the first time in this year’s Canadian Open quarterfinals, the result of which ended in favor of the Kazakh ace. Rybakina, who won the Australian Open earlier this year, will dethrone Aryna Sabalenka from the No.1 ranking if she reaches the semifinal for the first time.

Also read: Adrian Mannarino Slams US Open Conditions: “Becoming a Bit of a Zoo”