It's one of the worst things you can say to a Black tennis player' Osaka

"Naomi Osaka said using words like no education and no class to criticise a Black tennis player were among the worst things to say as the debate over a heated row between Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko raged on at the US Open. Townsend, who is Black, overcame 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko 7-5, 6-1 in a tough second-round battle on Wednesday."

"It's one of the worst things you can say to a Black tennis player in a majority white sport, four-time Grand Slam winner Osaka said. I know Taylor and I know how hard she's worked and I know how smart she is, so she's the furthest thing from uneducated or anything like that. Osaka, born to a Japanese mother and Haitian father, has been an outspoken supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement both in the United States, where she lives, and in Japan."

Taylor Townsend defeated Jelena Ostapenko 7-5, 6-1 in a second-round US Open match that culminated in a heated exchange at the net. Ostapenko repeatedly wagged her finger at Townsend after match point; Townsend later revealed part of the exchange and said Ostapenko would have to answer if there were racial undertones. Ostapenko said her anger came from Townsend's refusal to apologise after a net-cord point and denied ever being racist. Naomi Osaka condemned the use of phrases likening Townsend to having "no education" or "no class" and highlighted Townsend's intelligence and hard work. Osaka has publicly supported the Black Lives Matter movement.

Read at www.aljazeera.com