In the quarterfinals of the US Open, Osaka won against American Shelby Rogers 6-3, 6-4. She wore a mask with the name of George Floyd, the 46-year-old whose death in Minneapolis, MN, was caught on video on May 25 of this year. He died after being handcuffed, then pinned to the ground by police officer Derek Chauvin — Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd's neck for at least eight minutes and 15 seconds (but eight minutes and 46 seconds was the timing originally reported and became a worldwide symbol in his death).
The four officers involved have been arrested. Chauvin faces second-degree manslaughter and second-degree murder charges, and the three others face charges of aiding and abetting.
Osaka said after her match that choosing the masks she wears for each round is based on "a feeling I have inside." Then, in an off-court interview, she was shown footage of Trayvon Martin's mom and Ahmaud Arbery's dad thanking her for the public stand she's taking for racial justice. "I feel like I'm a vessel at this point in order to spread awareness," Osaka stated in response. "It's not going to dull the pain, but hopefully I can help with anything that they need."
