A new mask for every round, each featuring the name of a Black victim of violence.
That’s been Naomi Osaka’s pledge since the start of the 2020 US Open. Now into the semifinals for the first time since 2018, when as a shy, 20-year-old newcomer she captured the first Grand Slam title of her career, the Japanese superstar has brought the names of Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin and George Floyd to TV screens across the globe, her considerable platform put to use like never before.
Moments after her straight-sets dismissal of Shelby Rogers in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, Osaka was treated to a pair of video messages on the ESPN set, thank-yous from the families of Martin and Arbery.
Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, said, “I just want to say thank you to Naomi Osaka for representing Trayvon Martin on your customized masks, and also for Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Continue to do well. Continue to kick butt at the US Open.”
Arbery's father, Marcus Arbery Sr., also sent a message: "Thank you for the support of my family and God bless you for what you're doing and you supporting our family with my son. My family really, really appreciates that and God bless you."
The messages hit home for Osaka.
“I was just trying really hard not to cry,” she said in her quarterfinal press conference (available in full below). “It's a bit surreal. It's extremely touching that they would feel touched by what I'm doing. For me, I feel like what I’ve been doing is nothing. It’s a speck of what I could be doing.
“It was really emotional. At first, I was a bit in shock,” she continued. “I’m really grateful and I’m really humbled.”
Osaka, who traveled to Minneapolis in the days following Floyd’s death to grieve with others, was asked on Tuesday about her role as an activist, about what kind of world she would like to see in the future.
“Everyone just says 'peace' all the time,” she replied. “I'm not sure what the world would look like if everything was peaceful, but I would hope that people help each other in times of great need. I would also hope that the older generation isn’t scared to help the younger generation. For me, the biggest thing is I don't want people younger than me to suffer through the things I have to suffer through.”
WATCH: Naomi Osaka's quarterfinal press conference
