Japan’s Osaka took to Twitter local time in New York on Wednesday night after defeating Anett Kontaveit in the quarterfinals and talking to reporters.
“Hello, as many of you are aware that I played my semi-final match tomorrow,” the two-time Grand Slam winner began. “Before I became an athlete, however, I was a black woman. And as a black woman, I felt like there were much more important things at hand that needed immediate attention, instead of me watching tennis.
“I do not expect anything drastic to happen if I do not play, but if I can start a conversation in a majority white sport, I consider that a step in the right direction.
“Looking at the ongoing genocide of Black people at the hands of the police makes me honestly sick to my stomach.
“I’m tired of showing a new hashtag every few days and I’m very tired of having the same conversation over and over again. When will it ever be enough?”
The 22-year-old ended her post with the hashtags, Jacob Blake, Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain and George Floyd.
Osaka – who has lived most of her life in the US and now lives in Los Angeles – joined protesters in Minneapolis in the days after Floyd’s death.
Visited memorial for Floyd
“When I came back to Los Angeles, I signed petitions, I protested, and I donated, like many of us. But I kept wondering what can I do to make this world a better place for my children? I decided it was time to talk about systemic racism and police brutality. “
On Twitter, WTA founder Billie Jean King, a decades-long advocate for equality, called Osaka’s move “brave and effective.”
“Athletes who use platforms for good mean so much,” King said.
A statement issued near midnight on Wednesday by tennis governing bodies the WTA, ATP and USTA said: “As a sport, tennis collectively takes a stand against racial inequality and social injustice that has been pushed forward again in the United States,
“The USTA, ATP Tour, and WTA have decided to recognize this moment in time by stopping tournaments at the Western & Southern Open on Thursday, August 27. Playing will resume on Friday, August 28.”
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