Forget all-white: The 7 most talked-about women's kits at the 2026 US Open

The last Grand Slam of the year throws out the rulebook altogether, transforming Flushing Meadows into a high-energy catwalk where sport and style collide.

If Wimbledon is tennis’ most prim and proper tournament, the US Open is its complete opposite: flamboyant, raucous, and unapologetic.

While The Championships holds fast to crisp, understated elegance, the last Grand Slam of the year throws out the rulebook altogether, transforming Flushing Meadows into a high-energy catwalk where sport and style collide. Drawing inspiration from the city’s iconic sports culture—most notably the 2026 New York Knicks’ historic NBA championship—designers are pushing boundaries with electrifying colorways, bold (at times divisive) performance mesh, and streetwear crossovers.

From subtle nods to basketball legends to buzz-worthy walk-out kits, this year’s court style proves tennis can set fashion trends, too. Here are some of this year’s most talked-about looks.

Naomi Osaka (Nike)

As expected of tennis’ reigning fashion queen, the four-time Grand Slam winner turned heads (and sent bashers fuming) once again at the 2026 US Open. Osaka made the courts of Flushing Meadows her runway with a series of theatric, custom-designed outfits in collaboration with Nike, stylist Law Roach, and select fashion houses.

*Naomi Osaka’s Allen Iverson-inspired walk-on gown by Who Decides War at the US Open, which even came complete with the NBA legend’s signature cornrows and headband. Photo from Getty Images*; *banner photos from Nike*

For her opening-round appearance, Osaka stepped onto the court in a statement walk-on gown designed by Who Decides War, featuring an asymmetrical gray distressed hoodie lined with newsprint headlines from her illustrious career, paired with a cascading white tulle skirt. Underneath, she revealed an all-black playing kit consisting of a crop top, arm sleeves, and a basketball-netting-inspired mesh tennis skirt—a tribute to NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson.

Styled with fashion curator Roach, the outfit blended Iverson’s rebellious, culture-shifting hip-hop flair with high-performance tennis attire, bringing together basketball style with Grand Slam fashion.

*Naomi Osaka’s Thom Browne outfit at the 2026 US Open. Photos from Getty Images*

For her second-round match, Osaka embraced a sophisticated, all-white palette styled by Roach and tailored by Thom Browne. She walked out in a sheer, double-collared silk gazar jacket outfitted with a flowing mesh train and detailed with silver-and-white tennis-racket appliques. Once play began, she shed her outerwear to reveal a silver version of her Nike performance set, featuring a pleated miniskirt, matching visor, and Zoom GP Challenge sneakers.

Aryna Sabalenka (Nike)

Osaka is not the only Nike-sponsored athlete to wear a basketball-themed kit at the US Open, with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka sporting tennis kits honoring the New York Knicks. However, her ensembles divided fans and set off a lively debate online. The more ridiculed kit was the one she wore during her mixed doubles match with Novak Djokovic, a black mesh overlay paired with “Knicks-orange” shorts and a matching sports bra,

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A post shared by Aryna Sabalenka (@arynasabalenka)

While some loved the daring silhouette (mostly Sabalenka fans), there were more who made fun of the kit, with Redditors having a field day poking fun at it. Sabalenka’s admirers were gentler in their criticism, with one Instagram follower writing, “I love you, but this is hard to defend.” Another penned, “This is not winning you a slam, Aryna.” Sabalenka brushed off the criticisms, declaring: “I love that it’s different. I love that this outfit is bold!” She switched to a vibrant orange version for singles, however, which received more approval.

Aryna Sabalenka’s vibrant orange scoop-neck mesh tennis dress, which she wore atop coordinated tennis shorts, was more warmly received than the previous black-and-orange mesh kit. Photo from USTA via Getty Images

Elevating her on-court style, Sabalenka accessorized her activewear with a custom 127-carat high-jewelry suite created by New York luxury brand Material Good, for whom she serves as a global ambassador. It includes an 18-karat yellow gold handcrafted necklace with sapphire, tourmaline, garnet, zircon, spinel, chrysoberyl, and tanzanite.

*Aryna wearing the eye-catching Material Good necklace over her much-maligned Nike kit. Photo from USTA via Getty Images*

She coordinated the necklace with drop jacket stud earrings featuring sapphire, spinel, tourmaline, and garnet. Rounding out the suite is an 18-karat yellow gold handcrafted bracelet made with sapphire, tourmaline, garnet, zircon, spinel, chrysoberyl, tanzanite, and tsavorite. The entire collection holds a value of more than $400,000.

Designed to reflect the cosmopolitan energy of New York City, the colorful gemstones were engineered to remain lightweight and fluid, allowing the pieces to move with Sabalenka when she’s at play.

Alex Eala (Nike)

The Filipino tennis star’s 2026 US Open look is one of her best yet, right up there with her 2025 US Open and 2026 Roland Garros kits! Alex rocks in a vibrant Old Royal Blue NikeCourt Slam dress, a sleek monochromatic silhouette that is stunning on its own, but with the real magic in the details: subtle mesh accents along the back and bodice that stays faithful to Nike’s basketball-inspired theme.

*Alex Eala looking every bit the tennis princess that she is in her 2026 US Open Nike kit. Photos from Nike*

Complementing her kit, Nike introduced an official black $42 signature “Alex Eala” T-shirt decorated with floral accents and her name across the back. Riding high on the Eala Mania, the shirt went viral and sold out “in minutes” across Nike’s digital storefronts shortly after launching, outpacing player apparel releases from more established stars like Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Aryna Sabalenka.

A notable aspect of Alex’s tennis outfits (not just for the US Open) is a rare sponsorship exemption granted by Nike. Tennis commentators pointed out that her Nike kits feature corporate patches from long-time Filipino sponsors Globe Telecom and Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)—a perk Nike denied even to legends like Roger Federer and Serena Williams.

*NikeCourt black cotton Alex Eala T-shirt, which sold out “in minutes” when it was first released.*

Former Serena Williams coach Rennae Stubbs highlighted Alex’s exemption, emphasizing how unusual this privilege is among Nike’s stable of athletes. “You know how big it is, because she has patches on her dress, which is a Nike dress, and Nike usually doesn’t allow things on their clothes,” Stubbs said in an interview. Alex now joins a select group of players like Chinese stars Li Na and Qinwen Zheng who are allowed to wear external partner logos on Nike gear.

Iga Świątek (On)

Iga fans like me always bemoan On’s mostly so-so kits for the six-time Grand Slam champ. (The utter disrespect!)

Thankfully, they gave her something a little more exciting this time around. Iga debuted two-piece separates comprising a lightweight sleeveless graphic tank paired with a high-waisted, split-seam performance skirt.

*Iga Świątek in her On night-session kit. Photos from On and Iga Świątek’s Instagram accounts*

The outfit emphasizes Swiss technical precision, featuring ultralight moisture-wicking fabrics, laser-cut ventilation, and custom court-optimized colorways of the Roger Pro Fire performance shoes designed for high-intensity rallies in humid late-summer conditions.

To adapt to the atmospheres of Flushing Meadows, On crafted two distinct colorway variants tailored for different match times. Her night-session kit features a sleek, dark aesthetic dominated by rich black and deep purple gradient tones, while her day-session option has a lighter, heat-reflective palette engineered for better visibility under the sun.

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Jessica Pegula (Adidas)

The world No. 3 (and every tennis fan’s favorite billionaire heiress) made waves with her Adidas court style, wearing a widely praised ensemble from the brand’s multi-part 2026 US Open fashion release. Headlining the “New York” and “Beyond the Baseline” collections—which blends high-performance apparel with contemporary, street-style functionality—Pegula’s outfits quickly went viral across social media.

*Jessica Pegula wearing a kit from Adidas’ “Beyond the Baseline” Collection. Photo from Jessica Pegula’s and USTA’s Instagram accounts*

Designed with rich, vibrant shades like deep maroon and soft distilled pink, her look incorporates vintage 1990s New York athletic heritage with modern silhouettes. It includes subtle lace details, cutouts, and comfortable, performance-driven cuts tailored for the oppressive heat and humidity of the late-summer tournament.

*Jessica in a kit from Adidas’ “New York” Collection. Photo from Adidas*

A major defining feature of Pegula’s kit is its homage to track-and-field icon Florence Griffith Joyner (Flo Jo). Key pieces in her lineup, such as the Climacool Lace Crop T-Shirt and Dress Pro, feature intricate rose lace detailing designed to mirror the famous lace bodysuits Flo Jo wore during her late-1980s athletic peak, celebrating her legacy of bridging elite sport with personal style.

Coco Gauff (New Balance)

The fashion-forward two-time Grand Slam winner teamed up with New Balance for her US Open kits, drawing stylistic inspiration from New York’s historic Garment District. Designed to balance performance-driven innovation with fashion-forward details, her lineup features two distinct aesthetic options. One set utilizes vibrant “Glow Dawn” and “Enoki” shades in both solid and patterned variations, while the other features “NB Navy” as a nod to the host city’s fashion scene.

*Coco Gauff celebrates her 2026 US Open first-round win in a New Balance Navy colorway kit on September 2, 2026. Photos from Getty Images*

The kits are anchored by a reimagined bomber walk-on jacket equipped with gathered cuffs and a two-way front zipper.

“New York is really special to me—this is where I won my first Grand Slam, and coming back here for the US Open is always incredible,” said Gauff in an interview. “This kit captures the energy of the tournament. The silhouette makes me feel confident, and I love how it celebrates the city’s fashion legacy.”

*Coco reacts after her US Open second-round win on September 3 in a Glow Dawn and Enoki colorway kit from New Balance*.

To complement her on-court attire, the world No. 4 player debuted a special US Open colorway of her signature New Balance Coco CG2 tennis shoes. The footwear integrates the kit’s exact color palette—incorporating Dawn Glow, Enoki, and NB Navy accents—to tie her head-to-toe look together. The 22-year-old also helped launch New Balance’s new 983 lifestyle sneaker, headlining a global campaign that showcases her style influence beyond the court.

Marta Kostyuk (Wilson)

Building on the immense popularity of her Wimbledon 2026 kit—a custom two-piece floral lace look inspired by vintage dresses that sold like hotcakes—the feisty Ukrainian pivoted to a sleek, modern aesthetic for Flushing Meadows.

The world No. 11 stepped onto the court wearing the Varsity Red Laser Cut Pleat Dress, custom-crafted in collaboration with Wilson’s chief creative officer of Sportswear, Joelle Michaeloff. The piece features a striking, deep Varsity Red colorway paired with an athletic racerback silhouette, designed to provide complete, unrestricted movement for high-intensity rallies—which Marta seems to enjoy.

*Marta Kostyuk in Wilson’s Varsity Red Laser Cut Pleat Dress. Photos from Marta Kostyuk’s Instagram and @the1916company*

Beyond its bold, memorable color, the dress merges technical performance with high-fashion detail. The skirt highlights sharp knife pleats and an intricate, all-over laser-cut pattern that offers both an elegant, fluid drape and optimal ventilation to combat the summer heat. Built specifically for elite match play, the design is completed with a binding-finished neckline, an open-back panel for extra breathability, an elasticated waistband for a secure fit, and an integrated interior bra for customizable support.

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