After cancellation due to police violence: Naomi Osaka is playing her semi-finals
Naomi Osaka will now play her semi-final match at the Western & Southern Open. As the Japanese announced in another statement, she will compete against Elise Mertens on Friday.
by SID / tennisnet
last edit:
Aug 27, 2020, 07:46 pm
Naomi Osaka will now play the semi-finals at the Southern & Western Open in New York. The match against Elise Mertens from Belgium is to be rescheduled on Friday after the Japanese woman initially withdrew her participation on Wednesday in protest against police violence in the United States. The organizers of the tournament, which had been moved from Cincinnati to New York, had postponed all games scheduled for Thursday to Friday after Osaka's cancellation.
"After my announcement on Wednesday and lengthy discussions with the WTA and the US Tennis Association, I agreed to play on Friday," the 22-year-old wrote in a statement: "You have offered to postpone all games and I think that has already drawn a lot of attention to the movement. " Osaka also thanked the WTA and the organizers of the tournament for their support.
In her first statement, Osaka wrote that "as a black woman, she feels that there are far more important things that require immediate attention than watching me play tennis." She did not assume "that something drastic happens if I don't play. But if I can get a discussion going in a predominantly white sport, I see that as a step in the right direction."
US Open probably not in danger
The trigger for Osaka's protest was the Jacob Blake case. The black man was shot from behind by a police officer last weekend. The 29-year-old is said to have hit seven bullets in the back - he is fighting for his life in the hospital. The Milwaukee Bucks then boycotted their game in the North American professional basketball league NBA and thus started a wave of protests in US sports.
This should also ensure that the Japanese will start at the US Open in full. The second Grand Slam of the year should start next Monday, Osaka meets compatriot Misaki Doi in the first round.
Here is a summary of the women's draw!