Cincinnati, USA

Naomi Osaka protests, and Western & Southern Open pauses Thursday play

By Ed McGrogan Aug 27, 2020
Cincinnati, USA

“Tennis is learning”: The education of—and by—Coco Gauff continues in Cincinnati

By Steve Tignor Aug 21, 2023
Cincinnati, USA

In Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz's second classic in as many months, the legend, rather than the phenom, had the final word

By Steve Tignor Aug 21, 2023
Cincinnati, USA

Novak Djokovic saves championship point in thrilling Cincinnati final win over Carlos Alcaraz

By Ed McGrogan Aug 21, 2023
Cincinnati, USA

'This is what everybody wanted': Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic set Cincinnati showdown

By Steve Tignor Aug 20, 2023
Cincinnati, USA

Carlos Alcaraz saves match point, rallies past Hubert Hurkacz for spot in Cincinnati final

By TENNIS.com Aug 19, 2023
Cincinnati, USA

“Warrior” Coco Gauff finally solves Iga Swiatek riddle with right balance of attack and defense

By Steve Tignor Aug 19, 2023
Cincinnati, USA

Iga Swiatek to meet Coco Gauff in Western & Southern Open semifinals

By Associated Press Aug 19, 2023
Cincinnati, USA

Aryna Sabalenka steadies, scores bittersweet revenge over Ons Jabeur in Cincinnati

By David Kane Aug 19, 2023
Cincinnati, USA

Carlos Alcaraz has looked almost human in Cincinnati—how long can he live on the edge?

By Steve Tignor Aug 18, 2023
Cincinnati, USA

Naomi Osaka protests, and Western & Southern Open pauses Thursday play

Following a wave of postponements in the sports world in response to the Jacob Blake shooting, the two-time Grand Slam champion made an emphatic statement by saying she wouldn't play her Thursday semifinal.

ByEd McGrogan

Published Aug 27, 2020

Advertising

What began with the National Basketball Association’s Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic boycotting their playoff game on Wednesday afternoon became a cascade of cancellations throughout the sports world, in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis. That world now includes tennis.

Just before 9 p.m. ET—after the other two NBA playoff games scheduled for Wednesday were postponed, along with WNBA postseason competition and a number of Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer games—Naomi Osaka tweeted that she would not play in her Western & Southern Open semifinal on Thursday against Elise Mertens.

“…before I am a athlete, I am a black woman,” Osaka wrote. “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.

“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.”

Advertising

Shortly after 11 p.m. ET, a joint statement from the ATP, WTA and USTA acknowledged the day's historic events and postponed all play at the Western & Southern Open until Friday. It remains unclear if Osaka will still compete in the tournament, which was originally scheduled to conclude on Friday, given the US Open's Monday start.

"As a sport, tennis is collectively taking a stance against racial inequality and social injustice that once again has been thrust to the forefront in the United States," said the statement. "The USTA, ATP Tour, and WTA  have decided to recognize this moment in time by pausing tournament play at the Western & Southern Open on Thursday, August 27.  Play will resume on Friday, August 28."

The US Open draw is also scheduled to be released on Thursday afternoon.

Response from Osaka's contemporaries in the tennis world was quick, and universally supportive:

Advertising

Advertising