Osaka channels NBA icon Iverson to reach US Open second round
NEW YORK: Naomi Osaka channelled NBA fashion trailblazer Allen Iverson on Monday as she battled into the second round of the US Open.
Osaka drew inspiration from NBA legend Allen Iverson to advance to the second round of the US Open. The 28-year-old Japanese tennis player, a four-time Grand Slam champion, faced a grueling match against Russia's Anastasia Zakharova on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Osaka, known for her distinctive fashion sense, wore a custom-made gown adorned with news clippings of her career and sported hair styled like Iverson's, paying homage to the street culture icon.
Iverson, credited with revolutionizing basketball fashion, had earned Osaka's admiration in a pre-tournament press conference. The match saw Osaka and Zakharova exchange sets, with the latter recovering from a 5-3 deficit to lead 6-5 in the second set. However, Osaka's strong service game and unwavering competitiveness prevailed as she clinched the tiebreak and the match in just over two hours.
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- Osaka channels NBA icon Iverson to reach US Open second round sports.yahoo.com
