Reaction: Naomi Osaka Hosted Pre-French Open Dinner For Black Players

Last Updated on June 17, 2026 8:49 AM CDT

The French Open brings the world’s most talented and accomplished tennis players to Roland Garros for a high-leverage competition on clay courts. The Grand Slam event serves as a golden opportunity to advance careers and for players to build camaraderie.

Naomi Osaka wanted to take advantage of the latter and co-hosted a dinner before the tournament started with fellow tennis player Taylor Townsend. The dinner was only for black players.

There were mixed reactions to Osaka and Townsend’s event.

“It caused a bit of a stir,” Townsend said. 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. And now coming together all of a sudden seems like a problem.”

Osaka spoke about her diverse background and what it meant to her to be a part of an event like the one she spearheaded.

“Growing up, there weren’t a lot of tennis players I could look up to that looked like me,” Osaka said. “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.”

Osaka continued, “I felt like everyone in that room was a part of my family.”

Naomi Osaka on why she chose to host a party for the black tennis players:

“You know I’m seeing a little bit of-
‘Why can’t you love everyone for all skin tones?’ and ‘what if someone had an all white party?! First of all I do love everyone for who they are no matter their race… pic.twitter.com/Qg824Qsur5

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 24, 2026

Osaka defended her and Townsend’s decision to host the dinner.

“You know I’m seeing a little bit of ‘Why can’t you love everyone for all skin tones?’ and ‘what if someone had an all white party?!’ First of all, I do love everyone for who they are no matter their race and ethnicity. I can only speak from my experiences in my own life though, growing up as a tennis player I didn’t see many people that looked like me and I feel like it’s important to celebrate them,” Osaka said on social media.

Osaka continued, “Secondly I feel like it’s important to note that there have been all white dinners/parties. I don’t know how else to tell you this, I literally seen them all the time and never had an issue with it at all. To the people who ask this question I want to ask you this question too, “What is it about POC getting together that unsettles you so much?”

Townsend was defeated in her opening match by another African-American player, Coco Gauff. Gauff spoke about the history her and Townsend made in France.

“Taylor and I playing on Philippe-Chatrier is a direct product of Althea Gibson,” Gauff said. “It just shows the important of breaking barriers in all aspects of the world, but especially in sport. I’m very grateful for people like her and Serena and Venus, Zina Garrison for paving the way for us.”

Naomi Osaka and Taylor Townsend drew attention off the court for organizing a dinner for Black players before the French Open.

Townsend said the reaction to her post about the evening was “mostly positive,” but there was also online criticism.

Read more: https://t.co/zk3CaQOL13

— ABC News (@ABC) June 1, 2026

Townsend and Osaka have become fast friends, much to the surprise of Townsend. The latter didn’t really know Osaka before last year, when Townsend was invited on a vacation by Osaka.

“I didn’t know why she invited me,” Townsend said. “(But) it ended up being the best time and Naomi and I floated in the ocean on a surfboard for three hours and talked to each other…we’ve been best friends ever since.”