<p>Japan's Naomi Osaka says she wants to spread awareness about racial injustice after the former US Open champion walked onto court with a mask bearing the name of Breonna Taylor on Monday.</p>.<p>Osaka, who moved to the United States as a three-year-old, has seven separate masks with her at Flushing Meadows and hopes to wear a different one at each stage on her path to the final.</p>.<p>The mask she wore in her first-round match against Misaki Doi was dedicated to Taylor, a Black woman killed by police officers who burst into her apartment in March.</p>.<p>"For me, I just want to spread awareness," the fourth seed told reporters on a video conference. "I'm aware that tennis is watched all over the world, and maybe there is someone that doesn't know Breonna Taylor's story.</p>.<p>"Maybe they'll like Google it or something. I feel like the more people know the story, then the more interesting or interested they'll become in it."</p>.<p>The 22-year-old Osaka has been at the forefront of protests from tennis players against racial injustice in the United States.</p>.<p>She said she appreciated US Open organisers putting up anti-racism artwork and 'Black Lives Matter' banners in the showcourts of Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the absence of spectators due to the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>.<p>"I just feel like we're heading towards a great direction, and there's a lot of players that are supporting it," she added after her 6-2 5-7 6-2 win over compatriot Doi.</p>.<p>"I think there are a lot of voices that are contributing towards a lot of things, so it's definitely very nice to see."</p>.<p>While Osaka missed the crowd's energy during tough moments on court she said the empty stands helped her concentrate as her mind can wander sometimes.</p>.<p>"Like sometimes I will see a person with a cool outfit or something, they're doing something, and I get distracted." (Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; editing by Peter Rutherford)</p>
<p>Japan's Naomi Osaka says she wants to spread awareness about racial injustice after the former US Open champion walked onto court with a mask bearing the name of Breonna Taylor on Monday.</p>.<p>Osaka, who moved to the United States as a three-year-old, has seven separate masks with her at Flushing Meadows and hopes to wear a different one at each stage on her path to the final.</p>.<p>The mask she wore in her first-round match against Misaki Doi was dedicated to Taylor, a Black woman killed by police officers who burst into her apartment in March.</p>.<p>"For me, I just want to spread awareness," the fourth seed told reporters on a video conference. "I'm aware that tennis is watched all over the world, and maybe there is someone that doesn't know Breonna Taylor's story.</p>.<p>"Maybe they'll like Google it or something. I feel like the more people know the story, then the more interesting or interested they'll become in it."</p>.<p>The 22-year-old Osaka has been at the forefront of protests from tennis players against racial injustice in the United States.</p>.<p>She said she appreciated US Open organisers putting up anti-racism artwork and 'Black Lives Matter' banners in the showcourts of Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the absence of spectators due to the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>.<p>"I just feel like we're heading towards a great direction, and there's a lot of players that are supporting it," she added after her 6-2 5-7 6-2 win over compatriot Doi.</p>.<p>"I think there are a lot of voices that are contributing towards a lot of things, so it's definitely very nice to see."</p>.<p>While Osaka missed the crowd's energy during tough moments on court she said the empty stands helped her concentrate as her mind can wander sometimes.</p>.<p>"Like sometimes I will see a person with a cool outfit or something, they're doing something, and I get distracted." (Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; editing by Peter Rutherford)</p>