Naomi Osaka wins US Open while making social justice statement
Naomi Osaka won her second US Open title
yesterday (September 12) while making a statement for Tamir Rice, a black boy
shot and killed by a white police officer in 2014.
Osaka fought from a set down to defeat
Victoria Azarenka 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 and claimed her third Grand Slam title,
following the US Open in 2018 and Australian Open last year.
She wore a different mask with the name of a black victim of violence for each of her seven matches at this year’s tournament. The final mask paid tribute to the 12-year-old who was shot and killed by police while he played with a toy gun outside a recreation center in Cleveland, Ohio.
“The point is to make people start talking”,
said Osaka at the award ceremony at the near-empty Arthur Ashe stadium. Fans
were not allowed at the tournament due to the coronavirus pandemic.
She also wore masks with the names of
Breonna Taylor, Elijiah McClain, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, George Floyd
and Philando Castile.
