OSAKA TEES UP VICTORY
Naomi gets a message of protest off her chest and no one is arguing..
NAOMI OSAKA made a big on-court statement by reaching the final of the Western & Southern Open as Jo Konta crashed out.
The Japanese star refused to play her semi-final against Elise Mertens on Thursday as a protest at the shooting of Jacob Blake – and walked out on court in New York wearing a Black Lives Matter tee-shirt yesterday.
And despite confessing she had struggled to sleep and felt nervous, the world No.10 confirmed her status as a contender for next week’s US Open by beating the Belgian 6-2 7-6.
Osaka, whose father is from Haiti, said: “For me it has been a little bit stressful.
“I couldn’t really sleep last night so I am really glad, but glad I was able to play at a pretty good level.”
The 2018 US Open winner, who saved eight break points in the ninth game of the second set, added: “Honestly, I am glad I didn’t mentally collapse.
“I was down a break in the second. I got really tight in the tiebreak too, so I am really glad I didn’t just dip.
“This is my first tournament back so I am really glad I am playing well.”
Wildcard Osaka will meet Victoria Azarenka (above) in today’s final after the world No.59 beat Konta 4-6 6-4 6-1.
Konta refused to blame her defeat after only finding out her semi-final would be delayed at 9.15pm local time on Wednesday night.
She said: “I think the mantra of 2020 is just ‘Roll with the punches’.
“So in terms of having this kind of disruption, I think it is actually on quite a small scale compared to the other disruptions we have had during the year. I just used the day to recover.” Belarussian Azarenka broke the British No.1 for the first time in the tournament in the second set – and five times in all – before cruising to victory.
It is her best result, and first big final, since the birth of her child Leo in December 2016. She has since faced injuries and a custody battle over her son.
Both the 2018 US Open winner Osaka and Azarenka, who twice won the Australian Open, will be contenders for the American Grand Slam which starts on Monday with six of the top eight not competing.
Konta, who reached the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows last year, will start her campaign with a first-round match against Heather Watson.
Former British No.1 Laura Robson said: “It is not ideal for them and it is not ideal for British tennis.
“You travel halfway across the world and join this bubble only to play someone who you have played against so many times over the last couple of months.”