Britain's Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton claimed the inaugural Athlete Advocate of the Year Award for his involvement in the fight against racism.
The 21-year-old, born in Japan to a Haitian father and Japanese mother but raised in the United States, saud it will be special for her to represent host Japan at the Tokyo Games.
Up next for the twice Grand Slam champion is Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova who ended Angelique Kerber's resurgence with a 6-3, 6-3 victory.
American eighth seed Madison Keys claimed a dramatic 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(3) comeback win over a tearful Naomi Osaka on Friday to reach the fourth round of the US Open.
Osaka, 20, shot to international fame on Saturday when she defeated 36-year-old American Serena Williams at Flushing Meadows to become the first Japanese player to claim a Grand Slam singles crown.
The 22-year-old Osaka has been at the forefront of protests from tennis players against racial injustice in the United States.
Venus Williams, Coco Gauff pair up to play doubles at French Open.
Melbourne final feels 'bit unreal' for Japan's Osaka
Osaka battled on gamely before retiring while trailing Kaia Kanepi 7-6(4), 3-0.
Japan's Naomi Osaka said on Sunday that while she has spent her entire life waiting to compete at the Olympics, the risks of holding the Tokyo Games amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic should continue to be carefully discussed.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka reached the last 16 at the Miami Open when Elena-Gabriela Ruse retired injured on Saturday, while men's top seed Alexander Zverev beat Jacob Fearnley 6-2, 6-4 to reach the third round.
Coco Gauff, who shared an emotional on-court interview with Osaka after falling to her at the 2019 US Open, echoed Stephens's comments.
Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka have long moved on from their tempestuous 2018 US Open title match but that will do nothing to dampen the suspense ahead of their blockbuster Australian Open semi-final on Thursday.
Osaka was fined $15,000 for skipping her news conference after her first round win and was warned of possible expulsion from Roland Garros
"For me, right now I have this feeling of sadness," said Osaka.
Osaka has been an outspoken supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement both in Japan and the United States
A fan favourite, Naomi Osaka has struggled with uneven play since she withdrew from Roland Garros earlier this year amid a public row with tournament officials over required media appearances.
Japan's Naomi Osaka cruised to victory in her first match since lifting the U.S. Open title, beating Dominika Cibulkova 6-2, 6-1 in the last-16 at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Wednesday.
More major trophies surely await if she can convert her irresistible hardcourt form to French Open clay and grass at Wimbledon.
Osaka threw her racket, slammed a ball into the court and gave her racket a kick for good measure before steadying the ship
Two-times Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova says Naomi Osaka's shyness is a problem for her as she struggles to deal with the increased scrutiny in the wake of her success at the Grand Slams and her rise to the top of the world rankings.
Naomi Osaka gave Jennifer Brady a lesson in Grand Slam tennis as she cruised to a 6-4, 6-3 win to claim her second Australian Open title on Saturday and cement her standing as the new queen of the women's game.
Angelique Kerber produced a stunning display of defensive tennis to see off the big-hitting Naomi Osaka 6-4 5-7 6-4 in a classic Red Group encounter between the last two Grand Slam champions at the WTA Finals on Wednesday. The victory evens up Kerber's record at 1-1 in round robin play as Osaka slumped to her second straight defeat at the season ending event, leaving the U.S. Open champion on the brink of elimination from the eight-woman tournament.
Italian Cocciaretto stuns Pegula in big Wimbledon upset; Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen was beaten by Czech Katerina Siniakova.
US Open champion Naomi Osaka fought back tears and rallied from a set down to outlast Zhang Shuai 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 in the China Open quarter-finals on Friday.
Serena and Venus Williams usually get top billing at the Miami Open but this year there is another sister act vying for thespotlight with world number one Naomi Osaka showing older sibling Mari the ropes.
Naomi Osaka announced her arrival on the big stage at the US Open on Thursday, beating last year's runner-up Madison Keys 6-2, 6-4 to reach her first Grand Slam final.
World number one Naomi Osaka will "probably" defend her US Open title, even if it means defying her doctor's orders.
Novak Djokovic will prepare for a tilt at an 11th Australian Open title by representing Serbia at the United Cup mixed team tournament while old rival Rafael Nadal and former women's world number one Naomi Osaka return at Brisbane after time away.
Osaka, 21, said she lacked maturity when as a relative unknown player she won the tournament last year to kick off her meteoric rise through the rankings.
Osaka said her dominance in the rematch showed how much better she had become at sticking to a plan rather than relying on her instincts.
The German sixth seed, who has not won a title since winning at Flushing Meadows last year, never got into the match against the 2016 WTA newcomer of the year.
Venus Williams also went the distance before claiming a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Croatia's Donna Vekic.
Naomi Osaka faces a far more daunting task: Playing against her hero in the US Open final.
US Open champion Naomi Osaka grew up dreaming of competing against Serena Williams in a Grand Slam final but never would have dared to go as far as to think her idol would be reduced to tears in a drama-filled match.
Two-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka advanced to the US Open final for the second time in her career with a 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-3 victory over big-hitting Jennifer Brady.
Naomi Osaka's career could be in danger because of her mental health issues, according to six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker.
Naomi Osaka is happy to be lost in her virtual world.
'I don't know how the hell he moved with these shoes. Honestly, I can't imagine sliding in these.'
US Open champion Naomi Osaka continued to flourish in front of her home crowd at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, as she comfortably dispatched Barbora Strycova 6-3, 6-4 on Friday to reach the semi-finals.
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