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Naomi Osaka
SportTennis

Australian Open: Naomi Osaka speaks out about race and gender inequality because she was also ‘misunderstood’, says coach

  • The Japanese, favoured to win a fourth grand slam title this weekend, condemned anti-Asian blame for Covid-19 and former Tokyo 2020 head’s sexist comments
  • ‘Whatever she tweets, posts or says in interviews – she’s saying it from her heart’ says fitness trainer Nakamura

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Naomi Osaka is not afraid to speak her mind. Photo: EPA
Andrew McNicol

Naomi Osaka does not shy away from issues of racial and gender inequality. Where others may feel uncomfortable, the Japanese-Haitian tennis star has already had several ‘enough is enough’ moments and is absolutely within her rights, her coach said.

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In February, the Osaka-born 23-year-old expressed her disgust at the “hate, racism and blame” for the Covid-19 pandemic towards Asians around the world. In the same social media post, she lamented the “pathetic Ching Chong and shrimp fried rice” stereotypes often seen in comments sections.
Just last week, Osaka strongly condemned then-Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games organising committee president Yoshiro Mori’s “ignorant” and “uninformed” comments about women board members talking for too long in meetings. Mori’s eventual resignation felt inevitable, but it does not make standing against a top-level official as one of the faces of the country’s Games any easier.

Osaka, who seeks her fourth grand slam title when she plays American Jennifer Brady at the Australian Open on Saturday, has throughout the past year also spoken extensively about her support for the Black Lives Matter movement in both Asia and North America.

Naomi Osaka makes a statement wearing face masks to honour Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, Philando Castile, Elijah McClain, Ahmaud Arbery and Tamir Rice at the 2020 US Open. Photo: Reuters
Naomi Osaka makes a statement wearing face masks to honour Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, Philando Castile, Elijah McClain, Ahmaud Arbery and Tamir Rice at the 2020 US Open. Photo: Reuters
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The former world number one doubled down despite criticism to “stay in her lane”, saying the death of George Floyd had a “big impact” on her and that “being silent is never the answer”. It culminated in a dream US Open win last September where she proudly wore face masks donning the names of seven different victims of racial injustice in the country – one for each round.

“What she’s gone through as a Japanese, Asian, woman, black, mix-raced as well, she was misunderstood in so many different ways growing up. People judged – ‘are you Japanese, Asian, black, American, Asian-American?’ – and wanted to categorise or label what she is. I think she was a little confused herself, like, ‘Who am I?’ ” said Osaka’s performance coach Yutaka Nakamura from his hotel during the Australian Open.

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