世界四大テニス大会のひとつ、全米オープン。
例年、決勝戦は数千ドルで観客席チケットが売買されている大人気の大会だが、
大会前の公式練習で、世界トップクラスの選手を間近に観ることができる。
数年前、友人一家と連れ立って全米オープン会場に行った。
「あの選手、絶対に強くなるから、今のうちにサインをもらっておこうよ」
あどけない表情でニッコリ笑って、サインペンを手にした大坂なおみ選手。
あれから数年で、彼女は全米王者のタイトルを2度も手にした。
BLM(Black Lives Matter)運動のなか、黒人犠牲者の名前をマスクに掲げ、
「負けるわけにいかない」と最後まで勝ち続けた彼女の強さが、
スポーツに政治を持ち込むなという批判を大きく翻すことになった。
いろんな意見があるかもしれない。
でも実力があれば、命の重みや人権問題にすら影響を与えることができる。
世界へ誇れる日本人の血筋。
１セット目を取られてからの逆転劇、その芯の強さに、全米が感動している。
The U.S. Open is one of the four major tennis tournaments in the world.
It's a very popular tournament which tickets for the final match are usually sold for thousands of dollars.
You can watch some of the world's best players up close and personal during official practice before the tournament.
A few years ago, we went to see it with a friend and his family.
"We shall ask to get that player's autograph, because she's definitely going to be strong."
Naomi Osaka smiled with an innocent expression on her face and held a sign pen in her hand.
In the years since then, she has won the title of U.S. Champion twice.
In the midst of the BLM (Black Lives Matter) movement, she held the names of black victims on her mask and
She said, "I can't lose," and she kept winning until the end.
It's a big turn off from the criticism of not bringing politics into sports.
You may have many opinions.
But if you have the ability, you can influence the precious of life and even human rights issues.
She has a Japanese lineage that we can be proud of to the world.
After losing the first set, she turned the tables to win.
We have been impressed by her core strength.
©︎HUFFPOST