Japanese fourth Naomi Osaka won the semi-final game she once refused to play and defeated Belgian Elise Mertens on Saturday (AEST) to reach the ATP and WTA Western & Southern Open finals.
Osaka saved 18 of 21 breakpoints in their 6: 2: 7: 6 (7: 5) win and moved into the same New York COVID-19 quarantine bubble as the US Open begins for the championship game against two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka on Monday.
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“My service game was harder than normal. I’m glad I saved 18 of them, ”Osaka said. “Preparing for this game was a bit stressful, but I’m glad I was able to finish it.”
Two-time Grand Slam champion Osaka of Haiti and Japan said Thursday she would not play in the semifinals to protest the police shooting of African American Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Osaka, who showed up in a Black Lives Matter shirt for her match against Mertens, said she was “sick in the stomach” and “worn out” from repeated violence against blacks by US police, a move by NBA team Milwaukee Bucks the boycott reflected a playoff game for the same reason.
“I honestly didn’t even think it would be such a big deal,” Osaka said on Saturday.
“I thought I would just step back and make a statement. But then I got a call from Steve Simon (WTA CEO) and he said he fully supports me, so I’m really grateful for that. “
“I always thought it would be nice if someone started playing tennis. I’m more of a follower.
“I waited and waited and then I realized that I was the one to take the first step.
“After my quarterfinal game, I saw everything the NBA did. Then I felt like I had to raise my voice too. So I called Stu, my agent, and we talked about it. Then we called the WTA and they said they would love to support and that one day they would push the playback forward. So I made my statement.
“I just wanted to create awareness in the tennis bubble. I think I did my job I think. “
Osaka also addressed claims she had reversed in her decision to continue the tournament, making it clear that she was only expressing her intention to suspend a day, not the entire event.
“I feel like everyone is confused here because I didn’t say I would retire from the tournament. I just said I wasn’t going to play the next day, ”said Osaka.
“I don’t feel brave. I just feel like I am doing what I should be doing. When people say boldly or something, I don’t really like that.
“I just feel like I’m supposed to be doing that right now.
“It’s definitely a bit eye-opening, but in a weird way because before I just thought the Big Three (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic) and Serena (Williams) would have that kind of power.”
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Osaka’s decision prompted the WTA and ATP to postpone all semi-finals to Saturday, which inspired Osaka to change their minds and play despite fears that other late players would be upset.
“I don’t want you to blame me for the one-day break because your schedule was messed up,” she said.
“I was scared, but they were really nice.”
Osaka said her great personal benefits from the move were “trust and a more truer awareness of the impact my voice could have”.
Azarenka of Belarus defeated Britain eighth Johanna Konta 4: 6: 6: 4: 6: 1 in the other semifinals of the US Open, which is normally played in Cincinnati but was postponed after the deadly virus outbreak.
In the men’s category, the Canadian Milos Raonic eliminated the Greek fourth Stefanos Tsitsipas 7: 6 (7: 5) 6: 3 and reached an ATP final against the front runner Novak Djokovic, who defeated the Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut.
Mertens supported Osaka and was consistently impressed by the status of the game.
“I understand their reason 100 percent, so I totally support them,” said Mertens.
Osaka, the US Open champions of 2018 and the Australian Open champions of 2019, took the lead 2-0 and again took the first set in 38 minutes in the eighth game.
The 22-year-old Japanese star took a 2-0 lead in the second set before Mertens played through the next four games. Osaka fell back in game seven and won after fighting in the tie-breaker when Mertens hit a backhand wide.
Raonic praised Osaka’s move and said, “It is a human right not to have that fear. I hope that something will change in the future and that we as athletes can make up a small part of it. “
AFP
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