Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios Pay Tribute to Kobe Bryant at US Open Exhibition Match with Matching Lakers Jerseys

Mar. 15, 2025

From Left: Naomi Osaka; and Nick Kyrgios.Photo:Getty(2)

Getty(2)

Just days before what would have beenKobe Bryant’s 46th birthday,Naomi OsakaandNick Kyrgiospaid tribute to the late basketball legend.

Ahead of the 2024US Open, the two tennis stars teamed up for an exhibition doubles match on Tuesday. Aug. 20, and arrived at center court wearing matching jerseys to honor the NBA star, who tragicallydied in a helicopter crashin 2020.

To take on Taylor Fritz and Amanda Anisimova in the inaugural Mixed Madness event, which was held at New York’s Arthur Ashe Stadium, Osaka, 26, repped Bryant and his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, with a black No. 8 jersey.

Kyrgios, 29, wore a yellow No. 24 jersey, rocking the same number Bryant switched to later in his career.

Alongside avideoof the pair arriving at the event together, the US Open Instagram account wrote, “Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios pulled up rockin’ Kobe Bryant jerseys. 💜💛.”

Alongside a photo of the pair high-fiving on the court — plus a close-up of the back of her jesrey — the star shared a caption honoring Bryant with a nod to his nickname and alter ego, Black Mamba: “🐍♾️❤️.”

Kyrgios also highlighted the match and their tribute to Bryant with aclipof the pair on the court on Tuesday. In the caption, he wrote, “2 people that have had completely different journeys…… through negativity, injuries and whatever it is thrown our way… we continue to write more chapters….”

“Tag someone that you’d love to play doubles with on the biggest stadiums in the world 👑🐍,” he concluded the post.

The Mixed Madness event featuring fan-favorite tennis star duos also saw Coco Gauff and Ben Shelton lose to Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas, who went on to win the tournament — and its $250,000 prize money, per the US Openwebsite.

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Friday, Aug. 23 would have been Bryant’s 46th birthday. The star died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas on Jan. 26, 2020 at age 41, along with hisdaughter, Gianna, who was 13.

On what would have been his 45th birthday last August, the late athlete’s wife,Vanessa, with whom he also shares daughterNatalia, 21,paid tribute to himwith a message onInstagram.

source: people.com