Naomi Osaka said she will play her semi-final match at the Western & Southern Open, now scheduled for Friday, after she previously indicated her intention to refuse to play Wednesday.
“As you know, I withdrew from the tournament yesterday in support of racial injustice and ongoing police violence,” Osaka, who is Black, said in a statement to multiple news outlets. “I was (and am) ready and willing to give the game to my opponent. After my announcement and long consultation with the WTA and USTA, I agreed to their request to play on Friday. They offered to cancel all matches. set until Friday and in my mind that brings more attention to the movement. “
The two-time champion became the first tennis player to refuse to play on Wednesday in response to Jacob Blake’s police shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Several hours later, the USTA, ATP and WTA tours announced that the game was paused and would resume on Friday, as the sport “collectively took a stand against racial inequality and social injustice that re-emerged in the United States after has been pushed forward. “
It was not immediately clear whether Osaka would decide to take part in the rescheduling, but she said in her statement Thursday that she would play against Elise Mertens in the semi-finals after talks with the WTA and the USTA.
Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, was shot seven times Sunday by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Blake was shot as he tried to enter the side door of the driver of his car with three of his children inside. Video of the shooting was circulated on social media.
Osaka, who represents Japan but grew up in the United States and is based in Los Angeles, has the next plan to play in the US Open, which begins Monday. She won the tournament in 2018.
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