After walking on court with her Labubu charm hanging from her racket bag, Naomi Osaka was left grinning from ear to ear as she reached the third round of the U.S. Open for the first time since 2021 with a 6-3, 6-1 win over American Hailey Baptiste on Thursday.

The crystal-encrusted, racket-wielding Labubu charm she has nicknamed "Arthur Flash" — a nod to late pioneer Arthur Ashe — grabbed almost as much attention as Osaka's ferocious forehand winners as she needed just 70 minutes to complete the lopsided win.

"I was just really trying to focus and not give her any free points and just be positive," said Osaka, who showed off a bejewelled red Labubu — nicknamed "Billie Jean Bling" after retired great Billie Jean King — during her first-round win over Belgian Greet Minnen.