Naomi Osaka to Play Western & Southern Open Semifinals on Friday After Protest

Adam Wells @adamwells1985Featured ColumnistAugust 27, 2020

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, looks up during her match with Anett Kontaveit, of Estonia, during the quarterfinals at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Frank Franklin II/Associated Press

Naomi Osaka will play her Western & Southern Open semifinal match against Elise Mertens that has been rescheduled for Friday.

In a statement, Osaka said she has agreed to play after "lengthy consultation with the WTA and USTA" when the organizations agreed to postpone all Thursday matches because "in my mind that brings more attention to the movement" demanding an end to racial injustice:

Christopher Clarey @christophclarey
Full statement from Naomi Osaka about her decision to play on Friday. Released to the NYT by her management team https://t.co/guRNjoPdBh

This article will be updated to provide more information on this story as it becomes available.