NEW YORK — Naomi Osaka channelled Allen Iverson as a part of her US Open debut, and the previous NBA celebrity appreciated the look.
Osaka made her standard modern entrance for her match in opposition to Anastasia Zakharova on Monday night time within the first spherical. The 2-time US Open champion emerged from the tunnel onto the court docket in Arthur Ashe Stadium sporting an extended, white skirt and a grey, hooded gown that includes newspaper clippings about her.
She had the hood on when she entered. When she eliminated that to disclose her black outfit, Osaka had her hair accomplished in cornrows beneath a scarf, simply as Iverson did when he was the NBA MVP whereas enjoying for the Philadelphia 76ers.
It match along with her attire firm’s theme for the US Open after the New York Knicks received the NBA championship in June. Aryna Sabalenka is sporting an orange costume, one of many Knicks’ colors.
“It’s my, I suppose, my tribute to Iverson. I actually like him quite a bit,” Osaka mentioned following her 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3) victory. “I imply, Nike mentioned basketball, so I mentioned, ‘OK, you need basketball, I’ll provide you with basketball.’”
Osaka wore a shirt with Iverson’s image when she met with the media on the eve of the event and referred to as him a trailblazer.
“I feel he’s additionally somebody that I look as much as quite a bit, as a result of he’s variety accomplished quite a bit in vogue, whether or not it’s on objective or not, however he’s shifted the way in which that NBA gamers costume,” Osaka mentioned Saturday. “I additionally assume the entire dialog round garments in sports activities and likewise simply expressing your self via fashion, I really feel like he’s somebody that I look as much as in that regard.”
She added that they’d by no means communicated, however Iverson posted a message to Osaka on his Instagram web page Monday, writing: “Wow, what a honour!! BIG FAN can’t wait to fulfill you.”
