Tennis star Naomi Osaka won the US Open for the second time in her career on Saturday, marking her third grand slam victory.
Osaka, who honored seven victims of police brutality throughout the tournament by wearing their names on her face masks, rallied to defeat two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka in three sets after dropping the first.
The 22-year-old Osaka also won the US Open in 2018, and won the 2019 Australian Open.
Osaka, who is Black and Japanese, wore seven different masks before each of her matches, each one with the name of a victim. The names included Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, Philando Castile, and Tamir Rice.
After winning Sunday's match, Osaka laid down on the court on her back to soak it all in.
At the winner's podium, she was asked by ESPN reporter Tom Rinaldi to explain the message behind the masks.
"Well, what was the message that you got? -- was more the question," Osaka said. "I feel like the point is to make people start talking."
The parents of some of the victims reportedly contacted Osaka recently to thank her for her support and to wish her well in the tournament.
Osaka's victory, her clever response to Rinaldi, and her pumped-up boyfriend -- musician Cordae, who was wearing a "Defund the Police" shirt -- were hot topics on social media.
Social justice and sports do mix - and quite nicely- congratulations @naomiosaka !!! #USOpen2020 Champion!!!
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) September 12, 2020
