The 2-time Grand Slam champion was doing very well at the Western & Southern Open in New York. Osaka was scheduled to play the semifinal match against Elise Mertens and was only two steps away from winning the title. However, she has decided to pull out from the tournament in a protest against racial injustice.

"As many of you are aware, I was scheduled to play my semifinals match tomorrow. However, before I'm an athlete, I'm a black woman," Osaka wrote. "And as a black woman, I feel as though there are much more important matters at hand that need immediate attention, rather than watching me play tennis. I don't expect anything drastic to happen with me not playing, but if I can get a conversation started in a majority white sport I consider that a step in the right direction. Watching the continued genocide of Black people at the hands of people is honestly making me sick to my stomach," Osaka admitted.

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