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Following her protest against police violence in the United States, tennis star Naomi Osaka (Japan) canceled her participation in the final of the Western and Southern Open in New York against Viktoria Azarenka (Belarus) due to injury.
The former world number one has problems with her left hamstrings, the extent to which the injury will affect her start at the US Open as of Monday was initially open.
“I’m sorry to have to retire due to an injury,” said Osaka, who suffered the injury in the semifinals of 6: 2, 7: 6 (7: 5) against Belgian Elise Mertens: “It was an emotional week, and I want to thank you for the wave of support “.
The 22-year-old had boycotted her semifinals scheduled for Thursday in protest against police violence in the United States. After speaking with the WTA and the United States Tennis Association, she played her game against Mertens on Friday.
The Japanese boycott was in response to the Jacob Blake case. The black man was shot in the back by a police officer last weekend. The Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA professional basketball league did not show up for their game and set off a wave of protests in American sports.
For Viktoria Azarenka, winning the Grand Slam dress rehearsal was her 21st title on the tour and her first since the birth of her son Leo in December 2016.
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