US Open: Naomi Osaka wins three-set battle to reach the last 32 in another basketball-inspired outfit

Naomi Osaka battled through three sets at the US Open, then spoke about the pressure she had placed on herself. The former world No. 1 defeated Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 to reach the women's singles round of 32 with her second consecutive victory.

Osaka missed a chance to serve for the match at 5-3 in the second set, allowing Siniakova to force a decider. She regained control in the final set and closed out the match decisively.

"I felt I was being a little too hard on myself, so I went to the bathroom and tried to calm down and reset. I wanted to avoid leaving any regrets," Osaka said. She also told herself that playing on the court was an honor and that she wanted to keep competing in front of the crowd.

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I felt I was being a little too hard on myself, so I went to the bathroom and tried to calm down and reset. I wanted to avoid leaving any regrets.

The 28-year-old, a four-time Grand Slam champion, has won the US Open twice, in 2018 and 2020. Now a mother, the Japanese-Haitian star has made a point of creating distinctive outfits for each of this year's four Grand Slam tournaments.

After wearing an opening-round design inspired by NBA legend Allen Iverson, Osaka appeared in a white coat with a turned-down collar and beaded tennis-racket decorations. The wide mesh layer beneath her skirt resembled a basketball net. Her next opponent will be 20th seed Elise Mertens of Belgium.

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I kept telling myself that it is an honor to be able to play on this court. If possible, I just want to keep playing in front of you.