Naomi Osaka began her U.S. Open campaign with a fashion statement, drawing inspiration from basketball icon Allen Iverson for her on-court attire. The No. 13 seed outlasted Russia's Anastasia Zakharova 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3) on Arthur Ashe Stadium court as the match extended into the early hours of Tuesday.

Osaka's custom outfit, designed by Law Roach, featured a hooded tulle gown adorned with sewn-in newspaper clippings of her career highlights. Her hair was styled in cornrows pulled into a bun, and her black-on-black Nike kit evoked a vintage NBA jersey, complemented by a metallic skirt with a basket-like texture. "It's my tribute to Iverson," Osaka stated during her on-court interview. "I really like him a lot. Nike said ‘basketball.’ So I said, ‘OK, you want basketball, I’ll give you basketball.’ I love expressing myself through clothes."

Zakharova pushed Osaka to tiebreakers in both sets during her Arthur Ashe debut, but Osaka's experience on the grand stage proved decisive.

Osaka secured the first set on her third set point and went on to win the second set after an early deficit, sealing the match with a 121 mph ace, part of a 5-0 run. Her serve speed reached a high of 122 mph during the contest.

The two-time U.S. Open champion is known for her bold pre-match fashion choices. "I don't like talking that much, I tell people. I'm glad you guys appreciate it and I'll see you in the next round," she added, referring to her outfit.

Iverson, an 11-time NBA All-Star, responded to Osaka's tribute on Instagram, writing, "Wow, what an honor!! BIG FAN can’t wait to meet you."

Osaka expressed admiration for Iverson's influence, calling him a "trailblazer" who has shifted the conversation around clothing in sports and inspired players to express themselves through style. "I think he’s also someone that I look up to a lot because he’s kind of like doing 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," she said.

Osaka hopes to showcase more outfits throughout the tournament, but her initial look was a direct homage to the four-time NBA scoring champion.