"Nike said basketball, so I said, 'Okay, you want basketball? I'll give you basketball'" - Naomi Osaka details latest fashion venture

Court entrants are normally a standard procedure for many tennis players. They wander onto the court, lap up the applause and support while locked in on the task at hand. The same goes for Naomi Osaka, but there is always an excitement and anticipation over what she would be wearing with her unique fashion tastes being showcased on the world stage.

This was no different in her first round match at the US Open as she prolongs this trend that has been utilised and enjoyed in all of the Grand Slam events this year. From a breathtaking jellyfish in Melbourne to a sparkling Eifel-Tower inspired dress to the glistening all-white Japanese kimono at Wimbledon, the 28-year-old has put on a show.

Walking onto court with a stern facial expression that meant for business, the outfit shared a different side to her not always seen. It is a chance for her to express herself through the art of fashion with different and stylish outfits carefully crafted and thought of ahead of these big events.

At Flushing Meadows, the Japanese latest piece of work was showcased on Arthur Ashe, capping off the action on the biggest tennis stadium in the world. Still full of fans at the late hour, she boasted an all-white look with a hooded gown dashed with cuttings of newspaper headlines focusing on her personal achievements in her illustrious career.

Underneath was an all-black basketball-style kit that Osaka would play in. At the end of the day, there was still a tennis match to be played and the two-time winner managed to prevail in a tight contest against Anastasia Zakharova 7-6 (6) 7-6 (3).

Following the victory, Osaka openly spoke about the outfit which will surely be used many more times in this tournament if she continues her recent impressive form. It was inspired from NBA legend Allen Iverson who was a fashion trailblazer in basketball during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

"I guess my tribute to Iverson. I really like him a lot," she said in her on-court interview, speaking to Andrea Petkovic. "I mean, Nike said basketball, so I said, 'Okay, you want basketball? I'll give you basketball.'"

Her taste for fashion is something she is deeply passionate about. "I mean, I just love, I guess, 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 guys in the next round."

Being the fourth match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, the contest would drag past many people's bedtimes in New York as Osaka finally got the job done at 12:30 in the morning. "I mean, I would say it took everything," she said.

"Thank you guys for staying and watching. I have no idea what time it is. So thanks for staying. I'm sure it's really late, and I'm just really grateful to be able to play on this court again. So thank you guys."

Her form as of late has been really impressive. A final at the Berlin Ladies Open was backed with a quarter-final run at Wimbledon. Back on her favoured surface, Alexandra Eala ended her DC Open quest in the last-four while Elena Rybakina came back from a set down to get the better of the former World No.1 in the quarter-finals of the Canadian Open.

She skipped the Cincinnati Open with her family the priority, specifically her daughter, but the US Open is a very tantalising prospect for her as she looks to back up the semi-final run from last year.

Osaka led both sets against Zakharova 5-4 with a break advantage. However, both times she went to serve it out the Russian had other ideas. Both sets went to a tiebreak, and it was Osaka who managed to squeeze herself ahead and seized the initiative in both as she won both sets and blasted into the second round for the third consecutive year.

Shaking off the rust was part of the game plan as Osaka battled her way through. "I mean, I just told myself to not have any regrets," she continued. "I just really wanted to come out here and compete. I mean, I haven't played since Toronto, so I was a little rusty. And also, I just get really nervous during the first round of this tournament because I want to do well, and I want to show you guys some more outfits. So, hopefully I can keep playing some more matches in front of you guys."

The number 13 seed will take on doubles specialist Katerina Siniakova in the second round.