Naomi Osaka! At just 22, she has won the US Open for the second time .Osaka, a 22-year-old born in Japan and now based in the United States, arrived for Saturday’s match wearing a mask with the name of Tamir Rice, a Black 12-year-old boy killed by police in Ohio in 2014. Calling attention to racial injustice, Osaka honored other Black victims of violence throughout the U.S. Open with masks honoring Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, Trayvon Martin, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and Philando Castile.
Last month, Osaka refused to compete after the police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake, in Wisconsin — she said she would withdraw from her semifinal at the Western & Southern Open, although decided to play after the tournament took a full day off in solidarity.
Osaka and her coach, Wim Fissette — who used to work with Azarenka — have said they think the off-court activism has helped her energy and mindset in matches.
Asked about her masks with the names of Black men and women killed by police:
"Seven masks. Seven names. What was the message you wanted to send, Naomi?"
Osaka: "What was the message that you got was more the question. I feel like the point is to make people start talking." pic.twitter.com/2XwG4zq36r
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 12, 2020
Naomi Osaka wore a mask with Tamir Rice's name on it before her U.S. Open finals match. pic.twitter.com/N9HbidpM5D
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 12, 2020
