Naomi Osaka’s victory in the US Open was hailed Sunday by media and officers in Japan who broadly welcomed her campaigning for victims of racial injustice and in opposition to police brutality. Public broadcaster NHK broke into its common information programme to flash the information of the 22-year-old’s newest Grand Slam triumph, after she beat Victoria Azarenka 1-6, 6-3, 6-Three so as to add to profitable the 2018 US Open and the 2019 Australian Open. “Osaka achieved the feat of profitable a document third title within the Grand Slam singles as an Asian participant,” mentioned the every day Nikkan Sports activities.
Japan’s males’s tennis primary Kei Nishikori, who withdrew from the US Open after a positive coronavirus test, congratulated his fellow participant on her triumph — tweeting a string of emoticons of likes, muscle tissue and Japanese flags.
Media and supporters additionally backed 22-year-old Osaka’s protest against racism on and off the court.
“The victory embodied the sensation of bereaved households who hope to stop a repeat of tragedies and alter society,” the Mainichi Shimbun every day mentioned.
Osaka walked onto the courtroom earlier than the ultimate sporting a masks bearing the title of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old African-American boy who was shot lifeless by a white police officer in Cleveland, Ohio in 2014.
Osaka, of Japanese and Haitian heritage, wore totally different masks for every of her seven matches within the event, honouring victims of racial injustice and police brutality.
“She is courageous. I am pleased with her,” Osaka’s 75-year-old grandfather, Tetsuo Osaka, advised reporters of her stand.
Fumio Kishida, one in all three candidates to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, tweeted: “I respect her as she fought it out and confirmed one of the best end result, citing the significance of variety to the world. I am significantly inspired.”
Promoted
However the Mainichi every day reported combined reactions from some sponsors in Japan.
“I do not assume she wanted to do this whereas she’s preventing her method to the highest. If potential, we might like her to draw extra consideration together with her tennis abilities,” mentioned a supply linked to a Japanese company sponsor of Osaka’s, in line with the every day.
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