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Four-time Grand Slam tennis champ Naomi Osaka is being hit with backlash over the unintentionally — or cluelessly, depending on whom you ask — offensive name of her new media company, Hana Kuma. ...Hana kuma means “flower bear” in Japanese — but Twitter users quickly noted it has a far more explicit meaning in Swahili, where it translates to “woman without a vagina.” The lost-in-translation controversy began trending on Twitter in multiple African countries...

Four-time Grand Slam tennis champ Naomi Osaka is being hit with backlash over the unintentionally — or cluelessly, depending on whom you ask — offensive name of her new media company, Hana Kuma.

Tennis star Naomi Osaka said Monday she is withdrawing from the French Open after refusing to speak to the media at the grand slam. The four-time major winner posted a statement on Twitter saying she was pulling out so that "everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris," adding that she would "take some time away from the court." Osaka revealed she had "suffered long bouts of depression" since winning her first Grand Slam title in 2018. Last Wednesday, citing mental health reasons, Osaka posted on social media she would not participate in any news...

This is the same Naomi Osaka who just last year couldn’t get enough media attention and interviews. Of course, that was so she could show off her BLM mask and t-shirts, along with her rapper boyfriend who flipped the bird during trophy presentation. If that wasn’t enough she referred to America as a GENOCIDAL COUNTRY during an interview. "I've often felt that people have no regard for athletes mental health and this rings very true whenever I see a press conference or partake in one,” she wrote, in part. “We're often sat there and asked questions that we've been asked...

Tears fell down Naomi Osaka’s cheeks as she left the court for a comfort break to gear herself up for a third set she had not expected was coming in Saturday’s Australian Open final. None of us saw that outcome when Osaka held three championship points at 5-3 in the second set. But she was playing Petra Kvitova, the two-time Wimbledon champion who had battled back to the top of the game from a career-threatening injury when a knife-wielding intruder stabbed her playing hand at her home two years ago. Fighting is in Kvitova’s DNA and the Czech fired herself...

"...for calling chair umpire a thief" NEW YORK -- Serena Williams was penalized a game for calling the chair umpire a thief during an extended argument as the US Open women's final descended into chaos, with fans booing and play delayed before Naomi Osaka wrapped up a 6-2, 6-4 victory for her first Grand Slam title. Editor's Picks Serena accuses US Open umpire of sexism Serena Williams said being assessed a game penalty in the US Open final was a result of sexism and said that men have said "much worse" and not been penalized. Osaka's moment: Chaos, confusion and...

Tennis star Naomi Osaka, 20, kept a reporter in check after throwing her a question that neglected her Haitian roots. Upon winning the third round of the Australian Open against Ashleigh Barty (6-4, 6-2) on Jan. 20, Osaka spoke to a male reporter who wanted to know what her victory as a “very proud” Japanese means for her people. Reporter: You moved to New York when you were two years old and lived in the United States for a long time, but you’re very proudly Japanese, obviously. What will this victory mean for the people back home, for both sets...

Serena Williams has part of it right. There is a huge double standard for women when it comes to how bad behavior is punished — and not just in tennis. But in her protests against an umpire during the United States Open final on Saturday, she also got part of it wrong. I don’t believe it’s a good idea to apply a standard of “If men can get away with it, women should be able to, too.” Rather, I think the question we have to ask ourselves is this: What is the right way to behave to honor our sport...

A couple of years ago, QB Colin Kaepernick got benched because he couldn't play anymore. As I recall, he was regularly passing the ball to the other team in what we call "interceptions." Colin got benched and turned into a political philosopher. He could have worked on his deteriorating skills and tried to get his old job back. Not Colin. He found his "inner Che," and we know the rest of the story. The NFL is now all about Colin, and the fans are not tuning in. Now Nike is referring to his act as some kind of "sacrifice." Sorry,...

<p>No one expected Naomi Osaka to win the US Open yesterday. Everyone favoured her opponent. The crowd was solidly with Serena Williams, as were the bookies. But the 20-year-old Japanese-Haitian, who became the first player representing Japan to win a Grand Slam, prevailed against all the odds.</p>

German lady takes it in straight sets.... 6/3, 6/3.

FULL TITLE: WATCH: Serena Williams SNAPS, Chokes at U.S. Open Championship Days After Backing Kaepernick’s Anthem Protests, Nike (Videos) Naomi Osaka claimed her first Grand Slam title on Saturday after defeating Serena Williams 6-2, 6-4, in the final of the U.S. Open. With the victory, Osaka became the first Japanese woman to win a Grand Slam singles title. Williams was looking to win her 24th Grand Slam singles title, which would have tied her with Australia’s Margaret Court for the all-time record. Williams lost after receiving multiple penalties from Chair Umpire Carlos Ramos — including a point penalty for breaking...

“I really believe when you have a tournament like Wimbledon that they do what they want. You cannot say to another event that they have to do another thing. That’s my opinion. Why if Wimbledon have they own rules, why Roland Garros cannot have it?”

FULL TITLE: Patrick Mouratoglou admits he WAS 'coaching' Serena during the controversial US Open final but says he doesn't believe Williams saw him Patrick Mouratoglou has admitted to coaching Serena Williams during the US Open final but believes she didn't see him - which is why she became so enraged at the umpire. Williams has made headlines for coming to blows with umpire Carlos Ramos after he gave her a coaching violation in the second set. The tennis legend, who was then docked a point after she smashed her racket, told Ramos she would rather lose than cheat. 'I'm honest,...

The money comes out of Williams' $1.85 million in winnings as the runner-up to Osaka, whose 6-2, 6-4 victory on Saturday made her the first tennis player from Japan to win a Grand Slam singles title In the second set's second game, Ramos warned Williams for getting coaching, which is against the rules in Grand Slam matches. She briefly disputed that ruling, saying cheating "is the one thing I've never done, ever" — although afterward, her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, acknowledged he was trying to send Williams a signal. A few games later, Williams received another warning, this time for smashing...

Naomi Osaka, 20 years old, just became the first player from Japan to win a Grand Slam. Yet rather than cheer Osaka, the crowd, the commentators and US Open officials all expressed shock and grief that Serena Williams lost. Osaka spent what should have been her victory lap in tears. It had been her childhood dream to make it to the US Open and possibly play against Williams, her idol, in the final. It’s hard to recall a more unsportsmanlike event. Here was a young girl who pulled off one of the greatest upsets ever, who fought for every point...

Serena Williams came to blows with the umpire in the U.S. Open's Women's final as she accused him of 'stealing a point from her'. Umpire Carlos Ramos issued a game penalty to the U.S star during her game against Japan's Naomi Osaka because the umpire accused her of getting coaching from the side lines. The 23-time Grand Slam winner screamed at Ramos: 'Every time I play here, I have problems. I did not have coaching, I don't cheat. You need to make an announcement. I have a daughter and I stand for what's right. You owe me an apology.' 'For...

Serena Williams given warning for coaching, which she fiercely disputes A code violation then brings about a point penalty Williams unleashes a volley of abuse and is given a game penalty for verbal abuse Osaka holds her nerve to win 6-2, 6-4 for first major title