Naomi Osaka channels NBA star Allen Iverson with U.S. Open look

Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Naomi Osaka channeled another famous athlete -- retired NBA star Allen Iverson -- during her 2026 U.S. Open debut.

The Japanese tennis pro made her entrance in a custom Who Decides War look featuring a white tulle skirt and a sleeveless hoodie adorned with newspaper clippings about herself. She sported a Nike headband, along with red and black armbands, and wore her hair in cornrows.

Osaka won her Round 1 match against Anastasia Zakharova and discussed the inspiration behind her outfit in a post-game interview.

"I guess, my tribute to Iverson," the star said. "I really like him a lot. Nike said basketball so I said, 'Okay, you want basketball? I'll give you basketball.'"

"I love expressing myself through clothes," she added.

Osaka wore a shirt featuring Iverson's face at a pre-match interview Saturday and called the former Philadelphia 76ers guard a "trailblazer."

"I think he's also someone that I look up to a lot, because he's kind of done a lot in fashion, whether it's on purpose or not, but he's shifted the way that NBA players dress," she said. "I also think the whole conversation around clothes in sports and also just expressing yourself through style, I feel like he's someone that I look up to in that regard."

Iverson, 51, responded to that interview Monday on Instagram, writing, "Wow, what a honor!! BIG FAN can't wait to meet you. @naomiosaka."

Osaka will next compete against Katerina Siniakova in her Round 2 match at the U.S. Open Wednesday.

The U.S. Open runs through Sept. 13.

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