Osaka's look inspired by NBA legend Iverson in opening US Open win

Naomi Osaka made her latest fashion statement ahead of her first round match against Anastasia Zakharova at the US Open; watch the US Open live on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app

Naomi Osaka made her usual fashionable entrance as she channelled former NBA superstar Allen Iverson as part of her US Open debut.

The two-time US Open champion emerged from the tunnel onto the court in Arthur Ashe Stadium wearing a long, white skirt and a hooded robe featuring newspaper clippings about her.

When she removed that to reveal her black outfit, Osaka had her hair styled in cornrows, just as Iverson did when he was the NBA MVP while playing for the Philadelphia 76ers.

She advanced to the second round after overcoming a stern challenge from ‌Anastasia Zakharova to secure a 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-3) victory.

"It's my, I guess, my tribute to Iverson. I really like him a lot," Osaka said. "I mean, Nike said basketball, so I said, 'OK, you want basketball, I'll give you basketball.'"

She wore a shirt with Iverson's picture when she met with the media on the eve of the tournament and called him 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," Osaka said Saturday.

"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."

Osaka added that they'd never communicated, but Iverson posted a message for her on his Instagram page Monday, writing: "Wow, what a honor!! BIG FAN can't wait to meet you."

Former champion Iga Swiatek got her campaign off to a solid start as the Polish eighth ‌seed defeated China's Wang Xiyu 6-2 6-3 to reach the second ​round.

Swiatek claimed her first title of an inconsistent year in Toronto earlier this month and ​followed it up with a run to ‌the Cincinnati semi-finals, arriving in New York with a confidence boost as ​she bids for a seventh Grand Slam crown.

"For sure it was a good day in the office," Swiatek ​said on court after her 88-minute workout.

"I ⁠felt pretty good right from ⁠the beginning and I had the energy and the intensity. I want to keep ‌it that way. Wang was playing deep with lot of top-spin so I needed the strength.