Japan's Naomi Osaka withdrew from her semi-final match

Updated On: 28 August, 2020 11:29 AM IST | New York | AFP

Japanese star withdraws from semi-final of US Open tune-up event in New York over killing of a black man in Wisconsin; considers it a step in the right direction

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Japan's Naomi Osaka. Pic/getty images

Japan's Naomi Osaka withdrew from her WTA Western & Southern Open semi-final match on Thursday in New York to protest the police shooting of an unarmed black man in Wisconsin. Osaka, a two-time Grand Slam champion, was to have faced Belgian Elise Mertens.

More important than tennis

"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 immediate attention, rather than watching me play tennis," Osaka posted in a statement on Twitter. "I don't expect anything drastic to happen with me not playing, but if I can get a conversation started in a majority white sport I consider that a step in the right direction."

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