Naomi Osaka reaches second round of US Open in outfit honoring Allen Iverson
Naomi Osaka defeated Russia’s Anastasia Zakharova in the first round of the US Open, 7:6 (8:6), 7:6 (7:3). The two-time tournament champion took to the Arthur Ashe Stadium court in an outfit dedicated to NBA Hall of Fame member Allen Iverson, ABC News Australia reports.
An outfit honoring the basketball player
Osaka appeared in the arena wearing a hooded tunic decorated with patchwork-style panels featuring newspaper clippings about her previous performances at the tournament. The look was also complemented by a white tulle train.
The tennis player said it was her tribute to Iverson, whom she likes very much. According to her, Nike proposed a basketball theme, and she decided to develop it fully. Osaka also noted that she enjoys expressing herself through clothing.
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Two tense sets
The 13th-seeded Osaka quickly took a 4:1 lead in the first set, but Zakharova, who is ranked 101st in the world, took the set to a tiebreak. The Japanese player won it 8:6 and won another tiebreak in the second set, 7:3.
After the match, which ended at around 00:30 local time, Osaka thanked the spectators for remaining in the stands. She said she had lost her playing rhythm a little and is usually nervous in the early rounds. In the second round of the US Open, Osaka will play Czech player Katerina Siniakova.
Osaka won the US Open in 2018 and 2020. Earlier this season at Wimbledon, she unveiled a look inspired by Japanese culture, while at Roland Garros she competed in an outfit inspired by the nighttime glow of the Eiffel Tower.
