US Open champion Naomi Osaka shows sports and social justice do mix

“I was planning to play when I came here,” Naomi Osaka said of the French Open in the immediate aftermath of winning her third grand slam at the US Open, “but I guess I’ll see what happens.” That she was asked is because even with the coronavirus pandemic still in full swing the tennis calendar remains jam packed. The French Open starts in two weeks. Many of those who hold out hope of winning at Roland Garros are already in Rome for the Italian Open, the traditional preparation for Paris. There are plenty of understandable reasons for Osaka to stay away from the French capital. Game. Set. Championship. Naomi Osaka secures her 2nd #USOpen title pic.twitter.com/Yjnl1U1gUO — ESPN (@espn) September 12, 2020 The country is in the midst of a spike in Covid-19 cases with 10,000 recorded in a single day last week – the highest daily increase recorded in France since the outbreak began. That’s cause enough for concern never mind the fact that organisers plan on allowing up to 11,500 spectators in per day across three fan zones. You already know I had to bring out the headwrap for this one pic.twitter.com/YAlLk01hwm — NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) September 13, 2020 Victoria Azarenka, who Osaka beat in the final over three thrilling sets at Flushing Meadows on Saturday night, put it simply. “It will be very interesting for me to see how French Open is going to handle the situation with the bubble life, with the Covid now,” she said after the final. “I hope they will do a good job of protecting the players first rather than making money.” Osaka pays tribute to Kobe Bryant – wants to ‘keep his legacy alive’ Osaka should play, though, and not just so she can go for a fourth career slam at 22 in a field that will be weakened without world number one and reigning champion Ashleigh Barty. She should go to France as it offers her another platform to drive the conversation around social justice and Black Lives Matter as she did in New York. Osaka wore a face mask with the name of a different African-American, who had been killed by white police or civilians in the US, for each of her seven games: Breonna Taylor, Elijiah McClain, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, Philando Castile and Tamir Rice. this is crazy. pic.twitter.com/r3BBW0Elng — NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) September 13, 2020 She spoke about why the masks mattered to her after the final, that she might have been in the singles tournament but she was playing for more than herself. “I’m walking on the court into that moment. It made me stronger, because I had more desire to win, because I want to show more names, and I want people to talk about it more,” Osaka said. “I wanted more people to say more names.” “I feel like the point is to make people start talking,” she later told ESPN. She has made sure of that and beyond the US. Osaka’s global popularity gives her an even bigger platform and more to lose than most. We love you Naomi Osaka pic.twitter.com/kg8chLqzd7 — Ezekwonna Samuel Nnamdi (@lam_nanob) September 13, 2020 “We are proud of you. We support your action against discrimination, ‘Black lives matter’. From Japan, Small and medium sized business owners Union of Nishinomiya City,” wrote one Twitter user after Osaka had tweeted about thanking her ancestors. “I would like to thank my ancestors because everytime I remember their blood runs through my veins I am reminded that I cannot lose,” she wrote. The daughter of a Japanese mother and Haitian father, Osaka was born in Japan and raised in the US. She competes for Japan internationally and was expected to be the face of the Tokyo Olympic Games this summer before they were delayed until next year. I would like to thank my ancestors because everytime I remember their blood runs through my veins I am reminded that I cannot lose. — NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) September 13, 2020 That slam win on Saturday also made her the most successful Asian singles player, surpassing China’s Li Na’s two slam wins in Paris in 2011 and Melbourne in 2014. The news of Osaka’s third slam was a big deal in Chinese media – who also reported the stories of what happened to the people whose names were on her masks. Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, who wore a T-shirt with “Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor” on it before and after the Tuscan Grand Prix on Sunday, gave credit to Osaka. Li Na’s French Open win opened the door for Chinese and Asian tennis “Naomi has been doing amazing, huge congratulations to her, she is an incredible inspiration what she has done with her platform.” A deep run in Paris – just as she had in winning the US Open and reaching the final of the Cincinnati Open before it – is another chance for her to use it. One thing is for sure, that any message is harder to ignore when its accompanied by winning. Those that want to say “stick to sports” have no case to make with a champion. Osaka is proof that you can do both. Tennis great Martina Navratilova made just that point when she congratulated Osaka on Twitter. “Social justice and sports do mix – and quite nicely.” The soft-spoken Osaka is making herself heard, on and off court.