Two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has paid tribute to George Floyd before and after her quarter-final victory at the US Open on Wednesday (NZ time.)
The former world No 1 wore a black face mask with Floyd’s name printed on the front before and after her 6-3, 6-4 win over the 93rd-ranked American Shelby Rogers at Arthur Ashe Stadium, that set up a semi-final clash against American underdog Jennifer Brady.
Floyd died back in May after a Minneapolis policeman held his knee on Floyd’s neck for several minutes. He was handcuffed, and was heard to say, “I can’t breathe” before dying. The officer who knelt on Floyd has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
The African American man’s death sparked worldwide outrage and became the key catalyst for the Black Lives Matter movement.
Osaka has been honouring black victims who have died by the hands of police before and after every match at the 2020 US Open by wearing a personalised facemask in a stand against racial injustice.
Following her semifinal victory, Osaka appeared on ESPN’s set at Flushing Meadows where she was shown videos of two victims’ parents addressing the two-time Grand Slam champion.
Osaka said she was moved by the messages from the mother of Trayvon Martin and the father of Ahmaud Arbery.
“I was just trying really hard not to cry. For me it’s a bit surreal. It’s extremely touching that they would feel touched by what I’m doing. For me, I feel like what I’ve doing is nothing. It’s a speck of what I could be doing,” Osaka said. “It was really emotional. … I’m really grateful and I’m really humbled.”
She wore a mask with Ahmaud Arbery’s name on it before and after her third-round win over Marta Kostyuk.
“None of these deaths had to happen,” Osaka said at the time. “For me, I just want everyone to know the names more.”
Last month, Osaka withdrew from her semifinal of the Western & Southern Open in New York in protest against racial injustices.
Her decision coincided with similar protests from NBA and Major League Baseball players following the of Jacob Blake, a black man, in Wisconsin.
Osaka eventually did play her semifinal after the tournament organisers postponed the last four matches.
