Naomi Osaka was to play Elise Mertens in the semifinals of the 2020 Western & Southern Open on Thursday, August 27 but the match had to be cancelled after the Japanese number one pulled out of the competition. Here’s why Osaka has opted to not play in the remaining tournament.
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Oskaa won her quarterfinal against Anett Kontaveit in a hard-fought manner, coming back from behind to win the encounter. As the only player from the top 10 of the WTA rankings left in the draw, Osaka rallied to edge the encounter 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 in nearly two and a half hours to enter the last four.
However, Osaka later announced she would be withdrawing from the tournament to protest the killing of Jacob Blake. A police officer has been accused to firing seven bullets in the back of Blake as he leaned inside his car.
She said:
“Before I am an athlete, I am a Black woman. And as a Black woman I feel as though there are much more important matters at hand that need attention, rather than watching me play tennis.”
Here’s what Osaka tweeted:
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) August 27, 2020
And according to rumours, there is a possibility of a full boycott of the competition but more details are still awaited.
Hearing “strong possibility” of a full boycott tomorrow. @usta statement coming – will be interesting to hear the framing. Let’s not forget @naomiosaka role here….
— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) August 27, 2020
What’s also now known is the Western & Southern Open organisers have decided to pause the tournament on Thursday, August 27, taking a stance against racial inequality and social injustice. Play is expected to resume on the following day according to a media release.
More information on whether the remaining matches will go ahead or no is yet to be released and will be soon updated.
Naomi Osaka v Elise Mertens Head to Head
Before this withdrawal from Osaka, the two players had played each other twice and won once apiece. It started with Mertens upsetting Osaka in Wuhan in 2017 before Osaka gained the revenge in the semifinal stage of the Osaka Open in 2019.
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