US Open: Naomi Osaka uses masks to support racial injustice

AL BELLO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

Former champion Naomi Osaka is wearing a different facemask for each of her matches at the U.S. Open this year.

They each carry the name of a Black American and aim to highlight racial injustice in the United States to a wider audience:

During her round one match her mask bore the name of Breonna Taylor, 26, who was shot dead by police in her apartment in Louisville, Kentucky on March 13.

One police officer involved was fired by the city's police department in June.

Two other officers have been placed on administrative reassignment.

For her round two match she wore the name Elijah McClain, 23, who died after a violent encounter with police officers in Aurora, Colorado in August last year.

His family filed a lawsuit against the city and its police last month, alleging murder and routine use of excessive force against Black people.

Osaka's mask for her round three encounter had Ahmaud Arbery written across it, he was 25 and fatally shot after being pursued by armed white men as he jogged through a suburban neighborhood in Georgia in February.

Three white men have been charged with the murder of Arbery in a case that spurred a national outcry after cellphone video of the shooting was leaked on the internet.

More from Sports

  • Starc record as Australia bowl out Windies for 27 to win third Test

    Mitchell Starc delivered the fastest five-wicket haul in Test history on Monday as Australia crushed the West Indies by 176 runs in the third Test in Kingston, Jamaica to complete a 3-0 series sweep.

  • Modric joins Milan in one-year deal

    Croatia captain Luka Modric, who left Real Madrid after 13 years at the LaLiga club, has completed his move to AC Milan on a one-year deal with an option to extend until June 2027, the Serie A side said on Monday.

  • England win dramatic Lord's test by 22 runs

    England beat India by 22 runs on a final day of simmering tension and high drama in the third test at Lord's on Monday to move 2-1 up in the series.

  • LA28 unveils Olympic competition schedule

    Organisers of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics on Monday released the first look at the Olympic competition schedule, highlighting a historic reshuffling of key events and the most ambitious sports lineup in Games history.

  • England move closer to victory at Lord's

    England claimed four wickets to close on a famous win with India struggling on 112-8, still 80 runs behind the hosts at lunch on a tense final day of an enthralling third Test at Lord's on Monday.

News