"Naomi Osaka is bringing the Labubu fad to the U.S. Open. Osaka has played five matches at the Grand Slam tennis tournament so far this year, each time toting a different version of the popular plush toy attached to her racket bag. And she's won each time, too, eliminating No. 11 Karolina Muchova 6-4, 7-6 (3) on Wednesday night and Coco Gauff on Monday. Most recently she introduced fans to Andre Swagassi after tennis player Andre Agassi."
"Earlier this week at her postmatch news conference, Osaka pulled out another Labubu - a shiny, silver one - from the pocket of her black jacket and introduced the creature to reporters, saying, "Her name is Althea Glitterson," a tribute to Althea Gibson, the tennis champion who broke the sport's color barrier 75 years ago. Osaka's Labubus at Flushing Meadows have sported varying color schemes and nicknames, all decked out with shiny get-ups."
Naomi Osaka has brought a variety of Labubu plush toys to each U.S. Open match, attaching a different version to her racket bag for five matches and winning each time. The dolls have been named and styled as tributes to tennis figures, including Andre Swagassi, Althea Glitterson in honor of Althea Gibson, Billie Jean Bling, La-Billie-Bu, and Arthur Flashe. One Labubu carried a printed U.S. Open credential identifying it as a player guest with dining access, though the pass does not work with security scanners. The Labubus feature varying color schemes, nicknames, and shiny outfits.
Read at ABC7 Los Angeles
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