Naomi Osaka came through in all ways during her journey to today’s victory in the women’s singles title match of the 2020 U.S. Open.
Not only did now two-time U.S. Open winner Osaka rally to beat challenger Victoria Azarenka (who bested six-time U.S. Open champion Serena Williams in the semi-final in three sets with the mirrored score of 1-6, 6-3, 6-3), she did so while making powerful protest statements before every match.
Osaka wore seven different masks with seven different names of Black individuals who have died violently, unnecessarily, and mostly at the hands of police officers: Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Elijah McLain, Trayvon Martin, Ahmaud Arbery, Philando Castile and today, before her final match, Tamir Rice.
Osaka, according to CNN, said earlier this year that she was “done being shy,” and has certainly backed those words up at the 2020 U.S. Open.
“I’m aware that tennis is watched all over the world, and maybe there is someone that doesn’t know Breonna Taylor’s story, “Osaka said to reporters the day she wore the mask bearing Taylor’s name. “I feel like the more people know the story, then the more interesting or interested they’ll become in it.”
To read more about Osaka’s victory in the final, click here. To read more of her responses to questions about the masks she wore and why, click here.
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