She did it!
Naomi Osaka defeated Victoria Azarenka, Saturday to win the 2020 U.S. Open Women’s Singles final at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Osaka, 22, took home her third Grand Slam and second US Open Win, while battling against her own hamstring injury.
Though Azarenka, 31, won the first set 6-1, the Black Japanese tennis star took the second set 6-3. This is their forth match, their previous meeting was in the second round at the 2019 French Open, which Osaka won.
Osaka has been making headlines since the start of the 2020 tournament for both her tennis skills and vocal opposition against police brutality and racial bigotry throughout the country. She begun wearing face masks with the names of victims of racial injustice to her matches. On Saturday, Osaka wore the name of Tamir Rice on a black mask. Throughout the U.S. Open she wore the names of Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, George Floyd, and Philando Castile.
– Breonna Taylor
– Elijah McClain
– Ahmaud Arbery
– Trayvon Martin
– George Floyd
– Philando Castile
– Tamir RiceadvertisementNaomi Osaka won the US Open and used her platform while doing it. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/x3vNONC0HR
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) September 12, 2020
“I think tennis, people watch it all around the world and things that we think are common names are probably not common overseas,” Osaka said in a post match interview. “For me I just want people to have more knowledge. I feel like the platform that I have right now is something that I used to take for granted and I just feel like I should be using it for something.”
You’re a legend in the making, Naomi!
Photo Credit: CBS Sports/Associated Press