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US Open review: Naomi Osaka plans more protests

Mike Bovill
Authored by Mike Bovill
Posted: Tuesday, September 1, 2020 - 07:52

After walking out on court for her first round match at the US Open wearing a mask with the name Breonna Taylor printed on it, Naomi Osaka has revealed she has a different mask for every round as she continues to be a vocal supporter of the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

Taylor was the 26-year-old black woman killed by police in the United States back in March. Following victory over fellow Japanese player Misaki Doi, Osaka said Taylor is just one of the victims she wants to commemorate.

"I have seven. It is quite sad seven masks isn't enough for the amount of names - and hopefully I'll get to the final and you will see all of them."

Last week's killing of Jacob Blake prompted Osaka to initially withdraw from the semi-finals of the Western & Southern Open in New York. Eventually play was suspended by organisers for 24 hours, one of a number of sporting events in the States to respond to the increase in violence.

Osaka struggled at times to overcome Doi before eventually winning 6-2, 5-7, 6-2.

Elsewhere, Coco Gauff lost to Anastasija Sevastova but there were wins for Karolina Pliskova and Petra Kvitova.

Later on Tuesday, British pair Johanna Konta and Heather Watson will battle it out for a place in the second round.

 

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