Naomi Osaka, the two-time senior tennis champion, announced she would not play in Thursday’s Western & Southern Open semi-final in reaction to Jacob Blake’s shooting in Wisconsin. Several hours later, the tournament announced it would suspend play for a day.
“As a sport, tennis is taking a collective stance against racial inequality and social injustice that has once again been brought to the fore in the United States,” said a statement from the USTA, ATP and WTA. “USTA, ATP Tour and WTA have agreed to recognize this moment in time by stopping play at the Western & Southern Open on Thursday August 27th. Play will resume on Friday August 28th.”
Osaka had made her announcement on social media, saying there are more important issues that need attention.
“Before I became an athlete, I am a black woman,” she wrote in a post Wednesday night. “And as a woman of color I feel like there are far more important matters at hand that require immediate attention than watching me play tennis. I don’t expect anything drastic to happen if I don’t play, but if I can. getting a conversation started in a white majority sport, I consider it a step in the right direction. “
– Naomi Osaka Naomi Osaka (@naomiosaka) August 27, 2020
Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old black man, was shot seven times by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Sunday. Blake was shot while attempting to enter the driver’s door of his vehicle with three of his children inside. The video of the shooting was distributed on social media.
“Watching the continuing genocide of blacks at the hands of the police is honestly making me sick to my stomach,” he wrote in the post. “I’m exhausted of having a new hashtag popping up every few days and I’m extremely tired of having this same conversation over and over. When will it ever be enough?”
Many of her colleagues, including Sloane Stephens and Coco Gauff, responded to her post with praise.
Osaka, who represent Japan but grew up in the US and are based in Los Angeles, were expected to play Elise Mertens in the semifinals after beating Anett Kontaveit in the quarter-finals on Wednesday. The next game is scheduled for the US Open, which begins on Monday.
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