Naomi Osaka Giving Western and Southern Open Prize Money to Haiti Earthquake Relief
Naomi Osaka announced that she will be donating her prize money from the Western & Southern Open to Haiti after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that killed at least 304 people hit the country Saturday morning.
Osaka, who is of Japanese and Haitian descent, is a four-time Grand Slam singles winner and a No. 2 seed in the Cincinnati, Ohio-based tournament.
Osaka's appearance at the Western & Southern Open will be her first since the Summer Olympics, where she won two matches before falling in the round of 16.
Her 2021 season has been highlighted by an Australian Open victory, marking her fourth major win.
Osaka has contributed to Haiti before through her Play Academy, as Alex Boyden of Tennis Tonic noted in May: "Play Academy is partnering with GOALS Haiti, a grassroots organization working to advance youth leadership through soccer and education to create stronger, healthier communities in rural Haiti.”
Osaka got a bye into the second round, where she could face Coco Gauff. The tournament will run through Sunday, Aug. 22. Afterward, the U.S. Open is up. Osaka has won that major twice, including last year.
