For her first match at the US Open on Monday, Japanese star Naomi Osaka wore a face mask dedicated to Breonna Taylor, an African-American nurse who was killed by police during a March raid on her Kentucky home. Osaka's intention is to use the tournament to honor various victims of racial violence.
After defeating her compatriot Misaki Doi, Osaka emphasized that her goal is simply to spread awareness. She hopes that through her tennis career, she can draw attention to the tragedy of Breonna Taylor and the ongoing reality of racial injustice, believing that transparency leads to faster justice. Osaka mentioned that she has prepared six more masks with the names of Black people killed by police, intending to wear one in each subsequent round. She expressed a strong desire to make it to the finals to ensure every mask is seen.
The 22-year-old fourth seed has consistently spoken out following the May protests sparked by George Floyd's death. Osaka shared that she is comfortable acting as an activist in the sporting world and doesn't feel any pressure when speaking her truth.
Last week at the Western & Southern Open, Osaka considered pulling out of her semi-final match to protest the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin. Although she eventually decided to compete, she was later forced to withdraw from the final due to a hamstring injury in her left leg.
During Monday's match against Doi, it seemed that her previous injury was barely affecting her movement or performance. However, after the win, Osaka admitted she wasn't playing at 100% physical capacity. While she felt her fitness could be improved, she acknowledged that since she won the match, there wasn't much to complain about.
Osaka commented on the unique appeal of the tournament, noting that every Grand Slam offers a distinct narrative and a different learning experience. She expanded on this, explaining that each major tournament feels like a completely different journey.