Osaka claims U.S. Open title and rallies against racism

Naomi Osaka claimed the U.S. Open championship title on Saturday, Sept. 12, defeating Victoria Azarenka in a contentious comeback. 

Osaka, a 22-year-old, was down one set against Azarenka before winning two consecutive sets to capture the victory, grabbing her second singles title at the U.S. Open and third Grand Slam singles title. Her victory was applauded with scattered claps from a mostly empty stadium as fans watched from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I would like to thank my ancestors because every time I remember their blood runs through my veins, I am reminded that I cannot lose,” Osaka said. 

The tennis champ was fighting for more than the title. She also used her platform to advocate for racial justice amid a reckoning on race in the U.S. For each of her matches, Osaka wore a face mask with the name of a Black victim of racist or police violence printed on it. The names included Tamir Rice, Elijah McClain, Trayvon Martin, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Philando Castile and Breonna Taylor. 

In a post-match interview, Osaka was asked why she wore the masks.

“What was the message you got was more the question,” Osaka said. “I feel like the point is to make people start talking.”

Osaka’s activism on the court was preceded by activism off the court. She joined protests of systemic racism following the death of George Floyd over the summer and was vocal on social media, where she sought to educate followers about social injustice.

“I hate when random people say athletes shouldn’t get involved with politics and just entertain,” Osaka wrote on Twitter. “Firstly, this is a human rights issue. Secondly, what gives you more right to speak than me? By that logic if you work at IKEA you are only allowed to talk about the ‘GRÖNLID?’

In solidarity with athletes across multiple professional sports leagues, Osaka refused to play in her U.S. Open semifinal match following the police shooting of Jacob Blake on Aug. 27 in Milwaukee, Wis. Tournament play was suspended for that day before resuming on Friday.

“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,” Osaka said. “I’m exhausted of having a new hashtag pop up every few days and I’m extremely tired of having the same conversation over and over again. When will it ever be enough?”