Naomi Osaka has responded to online criticism after she hosted a self-described ‘black party’ involving several tennis players at the French Open.
The gathering included figures such as Coco Gauff, Gael Monfils, Taylor Townsend, Christopher Eubanks and Asia Muhammad.
Images of the dinner have generated online discussion but Osaka responded by framing it as an acknowledgement of visibility rather than separation.
In a post on social media, she said: “Growing up, there weren’t a lot of tennis players I could look up to that looked like me.
“Being a minority in a sport like tennis is very isolating but the positive is that you keep tabs on everyone that … being blunt, is black.
“There’s a fellowship, a camaraderie that doesn’t need words to describe.
“You just feel at peace knowing that there’s another person who has experienced similar things to you and you feel less alone.”
In a separate response, Osaka said: “I grew up watching my dad get discriminated against, having the cops called on him multiple times at the tennis court.
“There are multiple things I will apologise for in my life but celebrating being black and appreciating who we are will never be something I would consider saying sorry for.
“Actually I lied, I am sorry. I’m sorry for the people who cannot comprehend in their brains that this is not about exclusion, this is a celebration about how far we have come.”
