NEW YORK – Naomi Osaka will play in the Western & Southern Open semifinals, after all.A day after saying she would withdraw from the hard-court event to protest the "continued genocide of Black people at the hand of the police" — prompting the tournament to call off all of Thursday's matches — the two-time Grand Slam champion and former No.
1-ranked player changed course.Her agent confirmed that Osaka will face No. 14 Elise Mertens when play resumes at the tournament Friday with the semifinals.
The finals were shifted from Friday to Saturday.“As you know, I pulled out of the tournament yesterday in support of racial injustice and continued police violence.