Naomi Osaka wore an Ahmaud Arbery mask before and after her win over Marta Kostyuk on Sept. 4 at the 2020 U.S. Open in Queens, N.Y. Photo by Jason Szenes/EPA-EFE
Sept. 11 (UPI) --Naomi Osaka has worn masks, which have displayed the names of Black people killed or injured by police, before and after each of her matches at the 2020 U.S. Open.
She'll do so once more as a way to raise awareness in the fight for racial equality when she faces Victoria Azarenka in the women's singles final Saturday in Queens, N.Y
Advertisement
"It's a big motivating factor for me to try to get the names out to as many people as I can," Osaka told reporters Thursday. "I'm not sure if it's giving me extra power, but I want more people to talk about it."
Osaka wore a mask that read "Philando Castile" when she arrived for her semifinal match Thursday with Jennifer Brady. She defeated her in three sets to advance to the final of the Grand Slam.
Castile -- a 32-year-old Black man -- was shot and killed by police during a traffic stop in 2016 in Saint Paul, Minn.
Osaka said that when she arrived at the tournament, she brought seven masks with her -- one for each round of the Grand Slam. She wears the masks when she arrives at the court, but removes them when she plays. She puts them on again for post-match interviews.
Advertisement
Osaka, the No. 4 seed, began play with a three-set win over Japan's Misaki Doi in the first round Aug. 31. She wore a Brionna Taylor mask that day. Taylor, 26, was shot and killed by police in March in Louisville, Ky.
Osaka beat Camila Giorgi in straight sets in her next match and then knocked out Marta Kostyuk in the third round. Osaka wore an Elijah McClain mask for the Ciorgi match and an Ahmaud Arbery mask for the Kostyuk clash.
She wore a Trayvon Martin mask before she claimed a straight-sets wins over Anett Kontaveit. She wore a George Floyd mask for her match against Shelby Rogers, which she won to advance to reach the semifinals.
Martin's mother and Arbery's father sent Osaka supportive messages after she wore the respective masks for her matches.
"I feel like they're so strong," Osaka said, when reporters asked her about the messages. "I'm not sure what I would be able to do if I was in their position.
"I feel like I'm a vessel at this point to spread awareness. It's not going to dull the pain, but hopefully I can help with anything that they need."
Osaka has yet to wear mask for Jacob Blake, who was shot by police on Aug. 23, 2020, in Kenosha, Wis., but that could change when she arrives at the court Saturday for the tournament finale.
The matchup
Osaka and Azarenka each have two career Grand Slams, but Azarenka hasn't won a major title since 2013. Osaka's last Grand Slam came at the 2018 U.S. Open.
Advertisement
"I've been getting more confident in myself," Azarenka said after her upset semifinal win over Serena Williams on Thursday.
The two former world No. 1-ranked players have a 2-2 record in matches against each other. Osaka, 22, is favored win Saturday's final over her unseeded foe. She beat Azarenka In three sets at the 2019 French Open.
Azarenka, 31, beat Osaka in straight sets at the 2016 Australian Open. Azarenka also captured the Western & Southern Open title a week before the U.S. Open after Osaka withdrew from the final due to a hamstring injury.
"I'm very excited, but just as excited as I was last week," Azarenka said. "I'm sure this time we are going to get to play. It's going to be a great match. It will be an amazing final. She's a very powerful player and a champion."
Azarenka began her run to the final with three consecutive straight-sets victories. She then had a string of upsets over No. 20 Karolina Muchova Sept. 7 at Louis Armstrong Stadium. Next, she beat No. 16 Elise Mertens in straight sets in the quarterfinals.
Azarenka then upset the third-seeded Williams in three sets in the semifinals to clinch a spot in the singles finale.
"She seems really confident now," Osaka said of Azarenka. "She is moving well. It should be tough when I play her."
Serena Williams returns the ball to her sister, Venus, during their match at the Lipton Tennis Championship in Key Biscayne, Fla., on March 28, 1998. Venus Williams, defeated her sister 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. Photo by Susan Knowles/UPI | License Photo
Seventh seed Williams celebrates her Woman's Single victory over first seed Martina Hingis at the U.S. Open Tennis Championships on September 11, 1999. Williams defeated Hingis 6-3, 7-6. Photo by H.R. Celestin/UPI | License Photo
Sisters and teammates, Venus (L) and Serena Williams hug on the medal stand after receiving their gold medals in the women's doubles at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, on September 28, 2000. They defeated the Dutch pair of Kristie Boogert and Miriam Oremans 6-1, 6-1 in 49 minutes.Photo by Christine Chew/UPI | License Photo
Williams tosses the ball up to serve in her straight sets defeat of Patty Schnyder in day 7 action at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 5, 2004. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI . | License Photo
Andre Agassi (L to R), Steffi Graf, Serena Williams, and Ellen DeGeneres have a laugh while on the court during Arthur Ashe Kids Day in New York City on August 26, 2006. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Williams hits a backhand during her straight sets defeat of Ana Ivanovic at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 3, 2006. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams, the fourth seed, challenges a call as she takes on Kateryna Bondarenko in the first set of play at the U.S. Open in New York City, on August 26, 2008. Williams went on to win 6-1, 6-4. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Venus Williams (L), returns the ball to sister Serena in the second set of their quarter-final game at U.S. Open in New York City on September 3, 2008. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams reacts after a point in her match against Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez on Day 5 at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 4, 2009. Williams defeated Sanchez 6-2, 7-5. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Venus Williams (L) and sister Serena congratulate one another as they take on Cara Black of Zimbabwe and Liezel Huber in women's doubles finals match at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 14, 2009. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Williams slams a return to Maria Sharapova at the Bank of the West Classic at Stanford University in California on July 29, 2011. Williams defeated Sharapova 6-1, 6-3. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams changes sides after the first game in her match against Bojana Jovanovski on Day 2 of the U.S. Open in New York City on August 30, 2011. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
First lady Michelle Obama (L) meets with Serena Williams during the "Let’s Move!" tennis clinic held during the U.S. Open in New York City on September 9, 2011. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Williams gets called for a code violation in the second set when she speaks out to chair umpire Eva Asderakia during her match against Samantha Stosur in the Women's Final at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 11, 2011. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Serene Williams celebrates winning the women's final against Agnieszka Radwanska at the Wimbledon Championships in London on July 7, 2012. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams does a split after returning the ball in the second set of her three-set victory over Victoria Azarenka in the women's finals at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 9, 2012. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams holds the championship trophy after winning her second French Open women's final match against Maria Sharapova in Paris on June 8, 2013. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams serves to Sloane Stephens in the first set of fourth-round action at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 1, 2013. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
The sun sets behind the Manhattan skyline as Serena Williams serves to Carla Suarez Navarro at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 3, 2013. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams returns in her match against Anna Tatishvilli on Day two of the Wimbledon Championships in London on June 24, 2014. Williams won the match 6-1, 6-2. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams reacts during her match against Heather Watson on Day 5 of the Wimbledon Championships in London on July 3, 2015. Williams won the match 6-2, 4-6, 7-5. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams returns the ball in the Women's Singles Final against Garbine Muguruza on Day 12 of the Wimbledon Championships in London on July 11, 2015. Williams won the match 6-4, 6-4. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI. | License Photo
Serena Williams celebrates after winning a point in the second set of her match against Bethanie Mattek-Sands at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 4, 2015. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams returns a ball to Roberta Vinci in the thirrd set in the semifinals at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 11, 2015. Vinci defeated Williams 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 and Williams fails to become the first player to complete the calendar Grand Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams attends the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, Calif., on February 28, 2016. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams prepares to serve during her French Open women's final match against Garbine Muguruza in Paris on June 4, 2016. Muguruza defeated Williams 7-5, 6-4 to win her first French Open Championship. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams returns the ball in her Women's Final match against Angelique Kerber at the Wimbledon Championships in London on July 9, 2016. Williams claimed her 22nd Grand Slam title with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Kerber. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams bounces the ball as she gets ready to serve to Johanna Larsson in the first set of their third round match at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 3, 2016. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams reacts after defeat from Angelique Kerber in the Women's Final of the Wimbledon Championships on London on July 14, 2018. Kerber defeated Williams 6-3, 6-3. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams jumps rope with kids on the court at Arthur Ashe Kids Day at the U.S. Open in New York City on August 25, 2018. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams hits a forehand in her straight sets victory over Carina Witthoft in the second round of the U.S. Open Tennis in New York City on August 29, 2018. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Fans watch Serena Williams cry on the court between games against Naomi Osaka of Japan in the Women's Final in Arthur Ashe Stadium at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 8, 2018. Naomi Osaka won in straight sets and becomes the first Japanese woman in history to win a major championship. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams stands behind Naomi Osaka holding the championship trophy after defeating Williams in the U.S. Open Women's Final as the crowd boos. Osaka later shared some encouragement Williams offered her amid the chaos of the crowd. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams and husband Alexis Ohanian arrive on the red carpet at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Benefit "Camp: Notes on Fashion" at Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 6, 2019. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams serves during her French Open women's third round match against Sofia Kenin in Paris on June 1, 2019. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams reacts after losing a point during her French Open women's third round match against Sofia Kenin in Paris on June 1, 2019. Kenin defeated Williams 6-2, 7-5 to advance to the fourth round. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams high-fives doubles partner Andy Murray in their first round mixed doubles match against Alexa Guarachi and Andreas Mies at Wimbledon in London on July 6, 2019. Williams and Murray won the match 6-4, 6-1. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams waits for the trophy ceremony after losing to Bianca Andreescu in straight sets in the Women's Final at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 7, 2019. Andreescu defeated Williams 6-3, 7-5 to win her first-ever major championship. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Designer Serena Willams and daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. step out on the runway at the end of the S by Serena Williams fashion show at Metropolitan West 639 during New York Fashion Week: The shows in New York City on September 10, 2019. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo