
Emma Raducanu applauds Serena Williams after ousting ‘the greatest’ in Cincy
Raducanu won 6-4, 6-1.
Naomi Osaka is the 2021 ESPY winner for Best Athlete, Women’s Sports.
.@naomiosaka is the 2021 @ESPYS' winner for Best Athlete, Women's Sports!
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 11, 2021
... and she always gives the most wholesome speeches 🥺 pic.twitter.com/XrorWcjVUz
Saturday night’s award ceremony served as Osaka’s first public appearance since pulling out of the French Open and Wimbledon, citing mental health struggles. Osaka’s openness about her health has inspired a public conversation about the expectations placed on athletes and mental wellbeing at large.
The tennis phenom is expected to return to the court in Tokyo, representing her home country of Japan in the Olympic Games.
Additional 2021 ESPY award winners:
Raducanu won 6-4, 6-1.
Osaka lost in straight sets.
It's Halep's first Toronto semifinal since 2018.
Williams is expected to retire after the U.S. Open.
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