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Anyone wondering what look fashion-forward tennis star Naomi Osaka would sport at the U.S. Open this year received “The Answer” on Monday night at Flushing Meadows in New York.
That is, her look was very much inspired by basketball icon Allen Iverson, complete with cornrows, a headband and arm sleeves.
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After her 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3) first-round victory over Anastasia Zakharova, Osaka said she decided to pay homage to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer and his signature style after her apparel sponsor chose basketball as its U.S. Open theme.
Read more: Naomi Osaka has fun with fashion at the French Open. She’ll have to win again to show off her next look
“It’s my, I guess, my tribute to Iverson. I really like him a lot,” Osaka said during an on-court interview. “I mean, Nike said basketball, so I said, ‘OK, you want basketball, I’ll give you basketball.'”
Osaka took the court wearing a long, hooded gown — possibly inspired by Iverson’s hoodies and baggy clothes from back in the day — with newspaper clippings about her attached to it. She first took off the hood to reveal her hair and headband, then removed the gown to play in a black tank top and metallic tennis skirt.
Naomi Osaka arrives to compete against Anastasia Zakharova during the first round of the U.S. Open on Monday in New York. (Adam Hunger / Ap Photo/adam Hunger)
Naomi Osaka reacts to winning the first set against Anastasia Zakharova on Monday at the U.S. Open. (Adam Hunger / Associated Press)
The two-time U.S. Open champion also gave a nod to the 11-time NBA All-Star during her media day news conference Saturday by wearing a T-shirt that featured the longtime Philadelphia 76ers star’s 1999 Slam magazine cover.
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“For me, he’s a trailblazer,” Osaka said when asked about the shirt. “He’s also someone that I look up to a lot, because he’s done a lot in fashion, whether it’s on purpose or not, but he’s shifted the way that NBA players dress. And 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.”
Philadelphia 76ers’…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/naomi-osaka-pays-tribute-allen-181840253.html
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Publish date : 2026-09-01 18:18:00
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