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TOKYO – Naomi Osaka’s victory at the US Open was hailed on Sunday by Japanese media and officials, who widely welcomed her campaign for victims of racial injustice and against police brutality.
Public broadcaster NHK broke into its regular news program to break the news of the 22-year-old’s latest Grand Slam win, after she defeated Victoria Azarenka 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 to join to victory at the US Open 2018 and the Australian Open 2019.
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“Osaka accomplished the feat of winning a third record Grand Slam singles title as an Asian player,” said Nikkan Sports newspaper.
Japan men’s tennis number one Kei Nishikori, who withdrew from the US Open after testing positive for coronavirus, congratulated his partner on her triumph, tweeting a series of like, muscle and Japanese flag emoticons.
The media and supporters also backed the 22-year-old Osaka’s protest against racism on and off the pitch.
“The victory embodied the sentiment of grieving families who hope to prevent a recurrence of tragedies and change society,” said the Mainichi Shimbun daily.
Osaka entered the court before the final wearing a mask bearing the name of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old African American boy who was shot and killed by a white police officer in Cleveland, Ohio in 2014.
