Naomi Osaka channeled her inner Allen Iverson and had all the answers for Anastasia Zakharova at the US Open.
Naomi Osaka was not talking about practice. She was talking about her win over Anastasia Zakharova in the first round of the US Open in New York on Monday when she was asked about her tribute to Allen Iverson.
Osaka wore cornrows with a headband, an elbow sleeve, and an arm sleeve in honor of Iverson, who is widely considered one of the biggest game-changers in sports history because of his attitude and style. Osaka did not disappoint, beating Zakharova, 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-3), at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Osaka had not played since the quarterfinals of the National Bank Open in Canada in mid-August. She admitted that she was nervous for her maiden assignment at the US Open, but paying homage to the NBA legend probably boosted her confidence. After all, “The Answer” oozed with it during his heyday.
“I really like him a lot. Nike said, ‘Basketball.’ So I said, ‘Okay, you want basketball? I’ll give you basketball,” said Osaka with a smile in the post-match interview.
“I love expressing myself through clothes. I don’t like talking that much, I tell people. So I’m glad you guys appreciate it, and I’ll see you in the next round.”
Naomi Osaka after beating Zakharova at the U.S. Open
“I just get really nervous during the first round of this tournament because I wanna do well… and I wanna show you guys some more outfits”
Andrea Petkovic: “Can you tell us a little bit about the background and… pic.twitter.com/6KBEzpZDAN
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 1, 2026
The 28-year-old Osaka also grabbed attention at Wimbledon in June after wearing an all-white kimono to honor her Japanese heritage.
The four-time Grand Slam winner will face Katerina Siniakova in the second round of the US Open on Tuesday.
Iverson, whom Osaka described as a “trailblazer,” was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016. The 6-foot dynamo led the Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA Finals in 2001. He was a one-time MVP, an 11-time All-Star, a seven-time All-NBA, and a four-time scoring champion.
But many point to his cultural influence as his biggest impact, inspiring generations of athletes to be bold and fearless, including Osaka.
Naomi Osaka was not talking about practice. She was talking about her win over Anastasia Zakharova in the first round of the US Open in New York on Monday when she was asked about her tribute to Allen Iverson. Osaka wore cornrows with a headband, an elbow sleeve, and an arm sleeve in honor of Iverson, who is widely considered one of the biggest game-changers in sports history because of his attitude and style.