Naomi Osaka honours the late Breonna Taylor after three-set win over Misaki Doi
NEW YORK – Japan’s Naomi Osaka showed no signs of discomfort from the injury that forced her to miss a final on Saturday, but the former US Open champion had to dig deep to beat compatriot Misaki Doi 6-2 5-7 6-2 in her opener at Flushing Meadows.
A left hamstring injury had forced Osaka to withdraw from the Western & Southern Open final against Victoria Azarenka, but the fourth seed’s movement did not seem to be affected against Doi on Monday.
The past week saw Osaka, 22, emerge as tennis’ torch-bearer in protests against racial injustice and she walked out to the court wearing a mask featuring the name of Breonna Taylor, a Black woman killed by police officers who burst into her apartment in March.
“Actually, so I have seven (masks),” said Osaka.
“It’s quite sad that seven masks aren’t enough for all the names. Hopefully, I’ll get to the final so you can see all of them.”
Osaka initially pulled out of her semi-finals at the Western & Southern Open on Thursday to protest the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
She reversed her decision after tennis governing bodies suspended the tournament to join the protests.
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