The 2026 US Open Shoe Report
The 2026 US Open Shoe Report
It may be tricky to get noticed in New York City, but that doesn’t stop folks from trying. For the last major of the year, there is plenty of action afoot—so to speak—with a brand making a debut on the professional tour, On giving Ben Shelton some special treatment, more goodness from Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka getting metallic, and Carlos Alcaraz taking center stage with Travis Scott.
Off-court releases, small details and reimagined styles grace the grass at this year's Championships.
By Tim NewcombSeptember 3, 2026
It may be tricky to get noticed in New York City, but that doesn’t stop folks from trying. For the last major of the year, there is plenty of action afoot—so to speak—with a brand making a debut on the professional tour, On giving Ben Shelton some special treatment, more goodness from Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka getting metallic, and Carlos Alcaraz taking center stage with Travis Scott.
Nike Zoom Vapor 12 HC Cactus Jack
Carlos Alcaraz
Cactus Jack took to Arthur Ashe Stadium from head to toe as Nike and Travis Scott (aka Cactus Jack) teamed up to outfit Carlos Alcaraz in a brown-and-white kit inspired by basketball, including a special Travis Scott-designed Nike Zoom Vapor 12 Cactus Jack. The shoe features a white base with brown detailing, the Cactus Jack logo on the tongue, and a nod to Alcaraz on the inside of the tongue.
Vie Artlétique
Leylah Fernandez
A Shoe Report favorite, Leylah Fernandez has worn more shoe brands than any other top 50 player in the world over the past few years. She’s finally settled on one, becoming the first athlete to don a pair of the brand-new Vie Artletique shoes on tour. A group of tennis players, coaches, agents, and investors hired the GR Shoe Company to build a new shoe based on the idea of a highly technical shoe that intersects sport with art. The shoe features supercritical foam, a personalized last for Fernandez, new material for a durable toe guard, and a knitted herringbone upper that gives the Vie Artletique its distinct aesthetic in the tennis space.
On The Roger Pro 3
Ben Shelton
On’s new Lights Out collection comes inspired by Ben Shelton’s life off the court, featuring off-court looks and a black-and-white on-court kit for the US Open. Also new is an all-black The Roger Pro 3 model Shelton first wore under the lights in round 1.
New Balance Coco CG2
Coco Gauff
New Balance didn’t disappoint in ensuring Coco Gauff has her own look for every major of the year, shoes included (and those are at least available at retail). This tournament, Gauff’s signature Coco CG2s fall in line with the larger colorway from the brand’s footwear lineup, featuring the official colorway of “dawn glow and enoki,” which is basically a couple of light yellows set off with a dark navy accent.
Nike GP Challenge 1.5 “Naomi Osaka”
Naomi Osaka
Forget the kit, let’s focus on the shoes. Nike continues to offer Naomi Osaka’s special-edition GP Challenge 1.5s at retail, and for the US Open that means plenty of black and metallic silver (and if you’ve seen her kit, that’s no surprise). The black base features ample metallic silver hits, including the “NO” logo on the tongue and footbed, a crossed tennis racquet charm, and “NYC” branding behind the Swoosh.
K-Swiss Ultrashot 4
Frances Tiafoe
As K-Swiss celebrates its 60th anniversary with a range of special 60th Anniversary Edition colorways in white, black, and gold across its lineup—think Andrey Rublev in the K-Frame Speed Rublo—Frances Tiafoe continues to get a special player-edition Ultrashot 4 with the “Big Foe” moniker on the side of the shoe. Since K-Swiss is busy matching Tiafoe’s Lululemon kit, this version comes in a bright pink.
Adidas selected a “distilled pink colorway” for the Barricade, Defiant Speed, Avacourt, and Adizero Ubersonic. The footwear designs match the brand’s latest New York Collection of maroon and white and draws its inspiration, Annette Steingass, senior director of specialist sports at adidas, tells me, from the “bold spirit of 1990s New York, taking real influence from the nightlife, fashion, and sporting culture of the iconic era in the city.”
Asics has a mix of colors for the US Open, with the three pinnacle models showing up in two options each, one for night matches and one for day. Graphite gray, blue fade, gunmetal, and pure silver lead the color story. The brand also has a Gel Challenger model in a taxi-inspired yellow-and-black design, but that won’t be worn on court at the tournament.
Wilson brings the men’s Rush Tour and the women’s Intrigue to New York in a bright white, Wilson red, and “microchip” colorway. The microchip is a metallic-looking accent that offers a distinct look for the two silhouettes.
Alex de Minaur, though, isn’t wearing the Rush Tour. Instead, he’s in a prototype shoe from Wilson, something that likely won’t come to light until sometime in 2027.
Yonex athletes have options in “pale lilac” and “black/yellow” for their Eclipsion 5. Elena Rybakina and Casper Ruud both can choose which to wear, while other players may just go with the pale lilac.
Mizuno players showcase the new flagship Neo Ace model. The US Open colorways feature white and orange with a blue accent for the men and a purple accent for the women.
Aryna Sabalenka continues to defy the Nike norms, opting to play in a discontinued-at-retail Nike Zoom NXT sneaker matching her custom dress.
Cam Norrie wore the Babolat Jet Mach in blue with yellow accents.
Nike’s colors don’t stop. Star players such as Alexandra Eala, Mirra Andreeva, and Amanda Anisimova are playing in the royal blue and light blue shades for the US Open.
Follow Tim Newcomb’s tennis gear coverage on Instagram at Felt Alley Tennis.