Before each match, Osaka donned a face mask with the name of a different black man, whose death has called for racial justice.
Osaka has said it is using its platform to spread awareness about social justice.
After her match on Tuesday night, Osaka UST appeared on the set of ESPN at the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center, where she was surprised by video messages from Martin’s mother and Arbury’s father.
Arbury, 25, was chased and shot while jogging in Georgia in February. Martin, 17, was fatally shot in 2012 in Florida by a neighborhood watch volunteer as he walked home from a convenience store with iced tea and skittles.
“I just want to thank Naomi Osaka for representing Trevon Martin on your customized mask and for Ahmed Arbury and Brona Taylor,” Martin’s mother Sibrina Fulton said in a video message she played for Osaka on ESPN. “We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Keep up the good work. Keep kicking the butt at the US Open.”
In a separate message, Arbury’s father, Marcus Arbury, Jr., said, “God bless you for what you do and you support our family with my family. My family really, really appreciates it, and God Bless you. “
“It means a lot,” Osaka said after seeing the video message. “I feel like – I don’t know. They’re very strong. I’m not sure what I could do if I was in their position. I think I’m a ship in this place. To spread awareness and alleviate that pain. Will not, but hopefully I can help them with anything they want. “
In a news conference later, Osaka said the messages were also emotional and shocking.
“Really, I was just really trying to cry,” Osaka said. “It’s very touching that they’re touched by what I’m doing.”
She said she has seven masks ready to be worn with seven different names on her.
“It’s very sad that seven masks are not enough for the amount of names, so hopefully I can reach the finals and you can see it all,” he told ESPN earlier.
Osaka also wore masks in the names of Breno’s Taylor, Elijah McClean and George Floyd, all of whom were killed by police officers.
His hope is to encourage more people to do their own research on death and racial injustice and somehow improve the world for generations to come.
“I’m not sure what the world would look like if everything were peaceful, but I hope people help each other in times of great need. I also hope that the older generation will not be afraid to help the younger generation. The biggest for me. The thing is, I don’t want people younger than me to suffer the hardships I have to endure. “
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