Naomi Osaka has always being a staunch defender of the black community and this time she went 1 step further. The Japanese sensation decided to withdraw from the Western & Southern Open where she was meant to face Elise Mertens in support of the black community.
Unfortunately, there are new unrests in the US following the absolutely shocking shooting of Jacob Blake and Osaka couldn’t stomach the all situation. This was Naomi’s statement announcing her retirement.
“Hello, as many of you are aware I was scheduled to play my semifinals match tomorrow. However, before I am a athlete, I am a black woman. And as a black woman I feel as though there are much more important matters at hand that need immediate attention, rather than watching me play tennis.
I don’t expect anything drastic to happen with me not playing, but if I can get a conversation started in a majority white sport I consider that a step in the right direction. Watching the continued genocide of Black people at the hand of the police is honestly making me sick to my stomach. I’m exhausted of having a new hashtag pop up every few days and I’m extremely tired of having this same conversation over and over again.
When will it ever be enough?
#JacobBlake, #BreonnaTaylor, #ElijahMcclain, #GeorgeFloyd”
Naomi Osaka and her boyfriend YBN Cordae went already to Minneapolis after the killing of George Floyd and the YBN Cordae was even arrested when protesting for the murder of Breonna Taylor.
Osaka in New York, ranking, and results in 2020
Ranked world no.10, Osaka has a 8-3 win-loss record in 2020. Osaka is now having a run in New York where she toppled Karolina Muchova 6-75 6-4 6-2, Dayana Yastremska 6-3 6-1 and Anett Kontaveit 4-6 6-2 7-5.
Naomi Osaka was meant to square off with Mertens in the semifinal. Osaka won 5 titles in her career: all of them conquered on hard courts. (See the list of her titles)
Mertens in New York, ranking, and results in 2020
At the moment ranked no.22, Mertens has a 19-7 win-loss record in 2020. Mertens is currently competing in New York where she beat Rebecca Peterson 6-0 6-2, Kristina Mladenovic 6-1 6-75 6-3, Veronika Kudermetova 6-2 6-3 and Jessica Pegula 6-1 6-3.
Elise got to the final in Prague this year.
Elise won 5 titles in her career: 3 on hard courts and 2 on clay courts. (See the list of her titles)
Naomi Osaka and Elise Mertens played each other twice. The head to head is 1-1. The last time that they locked horns, Naomi Osaka won 6-4 6-1 in the semifinal in Osaka (Toray Pan Pacific Open) in September 2019.
In the following video you can watch the key moments of their match.
