Federer, Nadal, Djokovic join Blackout Tuesday message in fight against racism
From Roger Federer to Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka, the world’s top players joined forces on Tuesday to offer their support to the message of anti-racism with a co-ordinated social media effort.
Blackout Tuesday
Amid the backdrop of violence in the United States following the death last week of George Floyd, a black American, in police custody, many players, including Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, Coco Gauff and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had already made their voices heard.
Osaka had already posted videos from Minnesota, where Floyd died, and on Tuesday, a host of other leading players joined forces to offer their support on social media.
After a series of players including Gauff, Stan Wawrinka, Karolina Pliskova, Madison Keys, Borna Coric, Noah Rubin, Carla Suarez Navarro, Alize Cornet, Pablo Andujar – all posted similar tweets on Tuesday, posting a black screen and using hashtags including ~blackouttuesday, #blacklivesmatter and #unitednotdivided#, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic all followed suit.
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) June 2, 2020
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) June 2, 2020
Black Lives Matter. #BlackoutTuesday https://t.co/VANoWg4cko pic.twitter.com/FIelBxiTmn
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) June 2, 2020
#BLACKOUTTUESDAY pic.twitter.com/Y6kchmnn1o
— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) June 2, 2020
✊🏿 #blacklivesmatter #blackouttuesday 🖤 pic.twitter.com/7oS6l0ZBc8
— Stanislas Wawrinka (@stanwawrinka) June 2, 2020
#UnitedNotDivided pic.twitter.com/scZylEkf2d
— Karolina Pliskova (@KaPliskova) June 2, 2020
Félix Auger-Aliassime also took part in the movement in a long stance that was published by Tennis Canada’s Twitter account. He shared a racist behaviour his Dad faced. “There is still a long way to go for equality“, he claimed.
"I want to share a personal story that proves that there's a lot of types of racism – and it can be in your neighbourhood…"
Wise beyond his years, @felixtennis tells the story of how racism has hit close to home for him. Listen, learn. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/UTUuKMepdx
— Tennis Canada (@TennisCanada) June 2, 2020
On Monday night, Serena Williams also took part in a video which featured many players, including Frances Tiafoe, with hashtags #racquetsdownhandsup and #handsupdontshoot.
It starts with all of us. Thank you @FTiafoe pic.twitter.com/ABIeVRw9S2
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) June 1, 2020
