Naomi Osaka, the two-time major tennis champ, announced she would not play in Thursdays Western & & Southern Open semifinal match in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin. Numerous hours later on, the competition revealed that it was pausing play for a day.
” As a sport, tennis is collectively taking a position versus racial inequality and social oppression that once again has been thrust to the forefront in the United States,” a statement from the USTA, ATP and WTA said. “The USTA, ATP Tour, and WTA have actually decided to recognize this minute in time by stopping briefly play at the Western & & Southern Open on Thursday, August 27. Play will resume on Friday, August 28.”
Osaka had made her statement on social networks, saying there are more essential matters that require attention.
” Before I am an athlete, I am a black lady,” she wrote in a post Wednesday night. “And as a black female I feel as though there are much more concerns at hand that need immediate attention, rather than seeing me play tennis. I do not anticipate anything extreme to take place with me not playing, but if I can get a conversation began in a bulk white sport I think about that an action in the right direction.”
Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, was shot 7 times by cops in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday. Blake was shot as he tried to get in the drivers side door of his lorry with 3 of his children inside. Video of the shooting was dispersed on social media.
” Watching the continued genocide of Black individuals at the hand of the police is honestly making me ill to my stomach,” she composed in the post. “Im exhausted of having a brand-new hashtag turn up every few days and Im exceptionally fed up with having this very same conversation over and over again. When will it ever be enough?”
Several of her peers, including Sloane Stephens and Coco Gauff, reacted to her post with praise.
Osaka, who represents Japan but matured in the United States and is based in Los Angeles, was slated to play Elise Mertens in a semifinal match after beating Anett Kontaveit in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. She is next set up to play in the US Open, which starts Monday.
Play will resume on Friday, August 28.”
“And as a black lady I feel as though there are much more important matters at hand that need instant attention, rather than viewing me play tennis. I do not anticipate anything extreme to take place with me not playing, however if I can get a conversation started in a bulk white sport I consider that an action in the best direction.”
pic.twitter.com/miKzgSdGxY— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) August 27, 2020
