Japanese Tennis star Naomi Osaka has called it quits from the Western & Southern Open as she joins in protesting the shooting of Jacob Blake.
As racial injustice protests continued by several athletes following the police shooting of Blake in Wisconsin last week, many major US sporting events were called off as well.
In response to the shooting of African-American Blake and the civil unrest that has followed, three NBA playoff games, three Major League Baseball matches, three WNBA fixtures, and five Major League Soccer games were postponed after player-led actions were co-ordinated.
World number 10 Osaka, who has made it to the semi-final of the tournament, has formally withdrawn from the warm-up event for the US Open, which begins on Monday, and all of Thursday’s scheduled games in the competition have also been postponed.
The 2018 US Open champion Naomi Osaka, writes: “Before I am an 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 hands of people is honestly making me sick to my stomach.”
The USTA, ATP Tour and WTA released a joint statement as well and state: “As a sport, tennis is collectively taking a stance against racial inequality and social injustice that once again has been thrust to the forefront in the United States.
“The USTA, ATP Tour, and WTA have decided to recognize this moment in time by pausing tournament play at the Western & Southern Open on Thursday, August 27.”
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