Ace Naomi Osaka pays tribute to black lives in a unique fashion!
'Breonna Taylor'
During the first round, she wore a mask with Breonna Taylor's name written on it. "I'm aware that tennis is watched all over the world, and maybe there is someone that doesn't know Breonna Taylor's story," Osaka told reporters at the event. "Maybe they'll like Google it or something. For me, just spreading awareness. I feel like the more people know the story, then the more interesting or interested they'll become in it."
'Elijah McClain'
During her second round, she wore a mask with the name of Elijah McClain.
"I still don't think his name is very put out there compared to George Floyd or Breonna Taylor. For me, today was very special in the way that I wanted to represent him very well," Osaka said.
'Ahmaud Arbery'
She won her third-round wear a mask that bore the name of Ahmaud Arbery, the 25-year-old who died after being shot by two white men as he was going around for a jog. "I would like everyone to know that it was completely avoidable — this did not have to happen," Osaka told reporters after the match.
"None of these deaths had to happen. I just want everyone to know the names."
'George Floyd'
The 22-year-old Osaka, who has Japanese and Haitian parents, grew up and lives mostly in the United States, said that Floyd’s murder and the situation in America have had a major impact on her while adding silent is never the answer.
“I’m vocal because I believe in the movement and want to try to use my platform to facilitate change,” Osaka told Reuters.
'Makes me sick to my stomach'
Amid violence in Wisconsin over Jacob Balke's shooting by US policemen, tennis star Naomi Osaka withdrew from WTA Western & Southern Open semi-final match on Thursday in New York declaring that "genocide of black people at the hands of the police is honesty making me sick to my stomach."
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