Osaka has the final word in Blake protest
STOKES’ AGONISING DECISION
my head wasn’t really in it. Leaving (the team) was the right choice from a mental point of view.”
Stokes’ father, a former rugby league international, was diagnosed with brain cancer after being admitted to hospital in South Africa in January due to a brain bleed. “They
NAOMI OSAKA made a big on-court statement by reaching the final of the Western & Southern Open yesterday as Jo Konta crashed out.
The Japanese star initially 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 shirt.
And despite confessing she had struggled to sleep and felt nervous, the world No.10 confirmed her had to assess how I travelled and from that they discovered I had a couple of tumours on my brain as well,” said Stokes snr, 64.
“So, basically brain cancer. I’ve had a few bangs on my head through my life so that’s probably contributed to it.”
England batsman Ollie Pope is out for four months after dislocating his left should again.
Pope, 22, sustained the injury against Pakistan during the third Test in Southampton on Monday diving to save a boundary.
England hope the Surrey star will return in time for the winter tours of Sri Lanka and India, scheduled to start in January. status as a contender for the US Open starting on Monday 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 I was able to play at a pretty good level.”
The 2018 US Open winner, who saved eight break points in game nine of the second set, added: “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.”
Wildcard Osaka will meet Victoria Azarenka in today’s final after the world No.59 came back to beat Konta (right) 4-6 6-4 6-1.
The former world No.1 from Belarus 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.
Azarenka, who has won the Australian Open twice, will also be a contender at Flushing Meadows with six of the top eight
■ not competing while Konta – who reached the quarter-finals last year – plays compatriot Heather Watson in the first round.
Konta refused to blame her defeat on the match being delayed. “I think the mantra of 2020 is just ‘roll with the punches,’” she said.
“In terms of having this kind of disruption, it is actually on quite a small scale compared to the other disruptions we have had this year.”