In 2020, Naomi Osaka has been the face of tennis in protesting against the systematic racism against the black community. The Japanese sensation has been extremely vocal on social media and she went to demonstrate on the streets. Naomi also impressed when she forced the tours to postpone the Western & Southern semifinals in protest of the shooting of Jacob Blake. Then, Naomi went mainstream when she took the US Open court with 7 different masks carrying the names of 7 people that fell to racism.
Naomi Osaka and Cori Gauff and Venus Williams
Naomi was the most prominent and loudest voice in 2020 about the Black Lives Matter movement. However, she was not the only athlete. James LeBron (basketball) and Lewis Hamilton (F1) were also quite loud in their protest.
Naomi wrote a very interesting article in the New York Times stating that sport should not be apolitical and that athletes need to use their platform to discuss important issues. The world no.3 also lauded Coco Gauff and Venus Williams for their activism.
“Venus Williams has done more than most people know to continue the legacy of Billie Jean King in fighting for equality in women’s tennis. Coco Gauff, at such a young age, is fiercely active online and has spoken publicly and passionately in support of Black Lives Matter,” wrote Naomi.
Naomi Osaka in 2020
Now ranked no.3, the Japanese played her last match on the 12th of September when she beat Victoria Azarenka 1-6 6-3 6-3
in the final of the U.S. Open to win her 6th career title.At present, during this year Naomi has managed to achieve a 16-3 win-loss record. Osaka has won 1 title at the U.S. Open. Naomi was the finalist in New York.
Cori Gauff in 2020
Ranked no.48, the American played her last match on the 22nd of October when she was defeated by Aryna Sabalenka 1-6 7-5 7-62 in the 2nd round in Ostrava (draw).
Cori Gauff’s best result of the present year was getting to the semifinal in Lexington.
Naomi Osaka and Cori Gauff clashed against each other only 2 times. Their actual record is 1-1. The last time they locked horns, Cori Gauff won 6-3 6-4 in the 3rd round in Melbourne (Australian Open) on the 24th of January 2020.
In the following video you can watch the key moments of their match.
Venus Williams in 2020
At the moment ranked no.79, Venus played her last match on the 27th of September when she capitulated to Karolina Anna Schmiedlova 6-4 6-4 in the 1st round of the French Open (draw).