shooting of Jacob Blake and what she called “racial
injustice and continued police violence,” showed
she was willing to risk her preparation for New
York. She recognized that what was happening
in the U.S. was bigger than her, and that this was
the best way to highlight that issue.
And where Naomi led, tennis followed—all the
matches were paused for the day. This thought-
ful gesture made a big splash, and her desire to
speak up, and to raise awareness, carried through
to the U.S. Open.
When you know you’re doing the right thing,
that gives you more confidence in all the other
parts of your life. I really
think the masks gave Naomi
extra energy that propelled
her through the tournament.
They also helped to take the
pressure off a little bit. Why
should I be worried about
whether I win my next match
or not when people are dying on
the streets of America because
they’re Black?
The first time Naomi
won the U.S. Open, against
Serena Williams in 2018, she
had to deal with the booing
of the crowd. The second
time, in the middle of a
pandemic, she played to an
empty Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Maybe one day she will win
the championship with a full
house cheering for her. That she could play such
great tennis when there was no one in the stands
was an illustration of her inner strength and char-
acter and how she just gets on with it.
Like other star athletes today, Naomi has her
own bullhorn, with her Twitter and Instagram
accounts. She can tell her stories and talk about
what matters to her without anybody policing or
censoring her words. She gets to speak out. She
sets the agenda. I wish I had had a platform that
is just so powerful and empowering 30 years ago.
On social media, you have full control over your
message, and that makes a big difference. Naomi
is using her voice in such a positive way.
I’ve seen from Naomi’s tweets and posts that
she magnifies the issues she cares about. She’s
using that bullhorn—the bullhorn that she never
asked for—very wisely.
But it was Naomi’s actions off line, with her
protest in Cincinnati and her seven masks in
New York, that had the biggest impact. I hope
that she has kept all those masks, because one
day they ought to go on display in a museum.the power to inspire people and bring attention
to important causes.
Believe it or not, I’m an introvert like Naomi.
When I was on the tour I was terrified of public
speaking. All I wanted was to play tennis. Naomi
is the same. But this year I’ve seen her find her
voice, just as I found mine. Much of what you get
asked as an athlete is banal. What’s your favorite
T V show? Your favorite music? Even, what’s your
favorite color? But here was an opportunity, as
Naomi saw it, to use her fame and her voice to
address something so much more important than
winning a tennis tournament. When you’re as
introverted as Naomi is, you’re usually not com-
fortable talking about yourself; sometimes it’s
better to talk about other people or other issues.
And I think that’s what she has discovered.J
UST DAYS BEFORE the U.S. Open, Naomi
did something that I thought was heroic.
O.K., she wasn’t putting her life on the line,
but her decision to withdraw from the semifinal
of the Cincinnati tournament, in protest of theS O
T Y
SP
OR
TS
PE
RS
ON(^) OF
(^) TH
E (^) Y
EA
R MAT
TH
EW
ST
OC
KM
AN
/GE
TT
Y^ IM
AG
ES
NAOMI IS USING
HER OWN
BULLHOR N—THE
BULLHOR N SHE
NEVER ASKED FOR
—V E RY WI S E LY.
OPEN HEART
Having a broader
perspective
helped Osaka
earn her third
major title.