Naomi Osaka and Taylor Townsend have been making headlines at the French Open, not just for their on-court success but also for organising a dinner for Black players before the tournament. The event, which Townsend shared on social media, drew both praise and criticism, with some online commentators accusing the gathering of being 'segregationist'.
Townsend, who posted about the evening on Instagram, noted that the reaction was 'mostly positive' but acknowledged the criticism. 'It caused a bit of a stir, which I thought was pretty funny because for so long we have been the ones that (are) the minority in a sport where we kind of stick out,' she said. 'And now coming together all of a sudden seems like a problem.'
The dinner included Osaka, Townsend, 2025 French Open champion Coco Gauff, French player Gael Monfils, doubles specialist Asia Muhammad, and retired player Chris Eubanks. Osaka, who represents Japan but grew up mostly in the US, said in an Instagram post: 'Growing up, there weren’t a lot of tennis players I could look up to that looked like me. Being a minority in a sport like tennis is very isolating but the positive is that you keep tabs on everyone that … being blunt, is black. There’s a fellowship, a camaraderie.'
Townsend described the gathering as 'healing', adding that it allowed the players to share their journeys. The dinner recalls a tradition dating back to the Harlem Renaissance, when Black athletes and entertainers held similar events. Former US Tennis Association president Katrina Adams commented on Townsend's post, noting that in the 1980s and 1990s, Black players hosted 'Soul Food' Sunday at Wimbledon.
Osaka and Townsend's friendship began last year when Osaka surprised Townsend with an invitation to Turks and Caicos. 'We share a lot of the same values and principles and morals,' Townsend said. On the court, Osaka has reached the fourth round in Paris for the first time, while Townsend and her doubles partner Katerina Siniakova have advanced to the quarterfinals.
