Naomi Osaka to Sit Out Western & Southern Open Semis in Protest
(August 26, 2020) Naomi Osaka announced on her social media on Wednesday night that would not play her semifinal match on Thursday at the Western & Southern Open, being played on the grounds of the US Open. She is protesting the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis. Earlier in the day NBA teams scheduled to play play-off games also did not play in protests.
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) August 27, 2020
“Before I am an athlete, I am a Black woman,” she wrote on social media.“I don’t expect anything drastic to happen with me not playing.”
“But if I can get a conversation started in a majority white sport I consider that a step in the right direction.
“Watching the continued genocide of Black people at the hand of the police is honestly making me sick to my stomach. I’m exhausted of having a new hashtag pop up every few days and I’m extremely tired of having this same conversation over and over again. When will it ever be enough?”
Earlier on Wednesday, the world No. 10 and two-time major winner defeated Anett Kontaveit to reach the final four of the Western & Southern Open.
The ATP, WTA Tour and the Western and Southern Open announced that they are putting th tournament on pause for August 27th.
— Western & Southern Open (@CincyTennis) August 27, 2020
