Jason Whitlock unloads on US Open star for ‘cross-dressing as a black man’: ‘We call it progress’



Athletes pay tribute to their heroes all the time, but BlazeTV host Jason Whitlock doesn’t believe Naomi Osaka's Allen Iverson-inspired appearance at the U.S. Open was authentic.

“She walked into Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday night in cornrows, a headband, a shooting sleeve, and an elbow pad. She beat some foreign player in two tie breaks, and the press sold it as an homage,” Whitlock says.

“The night before, she wore Iverson’s face on a shirt and called him a trailblazer,” he adds. Osaka spoke in a press conference following the match.

“Obviously the inspiration is Allen Iverson. I think, you know, for me, he’s a trailblazer. He’s someone that was able to merge culture and sport. And he’s very famous for that. And also I just really appreciate his style,” Osaka said.


“That’s kind of like what I tried to embody, and obviously, I had a lot of fun with that design process and just coming up with the creative for it. So overall it was cool. I think it fit New York really well, and I’m just excited to continue,” she added.

Iverson wrote in a post on Instagram in response, “Wow, what a[n] honor!! BIG FAN can’t wait to meet you.”

“Iverson had never even spoken to her,” Whitlock comments.

“The costume needed a co-signer.”

Whitlock points out that Osaka was “born in Japan to a Haitian father and a Japanese mother.”

“Alan Iverson is not and has never been her role model. This is a mixed-race superstar using the U.S. Open to buy good credibility she did not grow up in,” he says.

“A 28-year-old woman cosplaying as a black man on the biggest tennis stage in the country. And we pretend the crossdressing is inspiration,” he continues.

“We call it progress and tell young girls and boys this is fashion. This is courage. This is who they should admire,” he adds.

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Female Tennis Stars Praise ‘Fair’ New Rule Excluding Men From Women’s Tennis

'It would not be really fair for the women to compete against biological men.'

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka gives blunt answer when asked about gender testing: 'Men are way stronger'



The top women's tennis player in the world is standing up for young girls in the ongoing public debate about protecting their sports.

Aryna Sabalenka, the current World No. 1 with 24 singles titles in her career, spoke to reporters ahead of the National Bank Open in Toronto on Sunday. There, Sabalenka fielded a question about the Women's Tennis Association's updated policy on gender screening.

'I don't agree with this kind of stuff in sport.'

A reporter asked the Belarusian how she felt about the new rules, which include a one-time test for athletes to prove they are women.

Sabalenka gave a straightforward reply:

"I think it's really important to keep the fairness in our tour, and it's obvious that biologically, right, the men are way stronger than women."

The 28-year-old continued, hinting that it may have taken the WTA longer to implement the policy than she would have hoped.

"I feel like it would be not really fair for the women to compete against biological men. So, I believe it took them a little while to make this decision, and, yeah, I support it."

Sabalenka included remarks about wanting to focus on herself and the tournament, but still unequivocally stated she is in favor of the testing.

"If they want to test us all, I'm happy to do that. It's pretty fair, and let's keep it that way," she added.

RELATED: Pressure mounts against WNBA to adopt 'biological women'-only policy: 'Women's sports are for women'

The WTA updated its eligibility policy in late July to reflect the implementation of the gender-screening process, offering definitions of both male and female.

"In this policy, 'biological male' means an individual who, regardless of their legal sex or gender identity, has an SRY gene and therefore has or previously had testes or streak testes," the policy states.

"Biological female" is defined as "an individual who, regardless of their legal sex or gender identity, has no SRY gene and therefore has or previously had ovaries or streak ovaries."

Further in the document, the governing body states that "a player must demonstrate their eligibility to compete in WTA Tournaments by means of SRY Screening."

"If the SRY Screen is negative for the presence of the SRY gene, the player will be permitted to compete in WTA Tournaments. Unless there is reason to believe a negative result is in error, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime test," the WTA explains.

RELATED: 'It's not fair': No. 1 women's tennis player states obvious truth about transgender athletes in women's sports

Robert Prange/Getty Images

Sabalenka was ahead of the curve on this topic, having shared similar remarks when promoting the Battle of the Sexes exhibition match in December.

Before losing 6-3, 6-3 in two straight sets to Nick Kyrgios in Dubai, Sabalenka told host Piers Morgan, "I think it's just not fair to a woman to basically face, like, biologically man."

She emphasized that she didn't think it was fair for a woman to work her entire life to "reach her limit" only to then face a man, knowing they are "biologically much stronger."

"So for me, I don't agree with this kind of stuff in sport," she added.

Kyrgios was asked the same question by Morgan; he simply said he had "nothing to add" because he feels "the exact same way."

Sabalenka faces Japan's Moyuka Uchijima on Tuesday night at the National Bank Open.

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Soccer Is Spiritually A Third-World Sport

Soccer is fundamentally a Third World exercise in tribal warfare.

Pro tennis player says her 'toxic boyfriend' caused her retirement: 'Racist, misogynistic, homophobic'



A female tennis player says she is retiring from the sport because of its "hostile" culture that has resulted in death threats, insults, and poor self-esteem.

Destanee Aiava announced she is leaving the sport at the end of the season, after having peaked at No. 147 in the world in 2017, when she was just 17 years old.

'... a culture that's racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile to anyone who doesn't fit the mould.'

The Australian departed with a scathing post on her Instagram page, criticizing her soon-to-be former sport for taking away her family, her health, and her self-worth.

"2026 will be my final year on tour playing professional tennis," the 25-year-old wrote.

After asking if everything she sacrificed for the sport "was actually worth the cost," the tennis player listed all the reasons she has kept playing over the years despite of her distress, concluding, "In other words tennis was my toxic boyfriend."

"It also took things from me," she continued. "My relationship with my body. My health. My family. My self worth. Would I do it all again? I really don't know."

Then Aiava got even more direct and a lot more vulgar:

"I want to say a ginormous f**k you to everyone in the tennis community who's ever made me feel less than."

RELATED: Liberal reporter frustrates American tennis stars by asking the same tired question

"F**k you to every single gambler who's sent me hate or death threats. F**k you to the people who sit behind screens on social media, commenting on my body, my career or whatever the f**k they want to nitpick," Aiava went on.

The tennis player, who is of Samoan descent, launched into criticisms of her sport, seemingly giving it every negative label she could.

"And f**k you to a sport that hides behind so-called class and gentlemanly values. Behind the white outfits and traditions is a culture that's racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile to anyone who doesn't fit the mould. "

Aiava broadened her explanation in an interview with Australia's "ABC News Breakfast" and host Catherine Murphy.

RELATED: 'I don't think that's relevant': American tennis star shuts down reporters fishing for anti-Trump answers

"I experienced a lot of racism from parents, people I was playing; just comments at the back of the court and even to this day, I'm still getting racist comments [in] DMs and everything. So yeah, it just, it was never-ending," Aiava told the host. She added that when she was a young girl who was simply "doing her best," she faced "constant comments that are racist" as well.

Aiava expanded on her body issues as it relates to tennis, which she said were based on the people around her and "seeing other girls in this sport."

She noted that she has always had issues with food, and being "not really surrounded by many women" like herself, her bad relationship with food only got worse.

The tennis player concluded by agreeing with the host when asked if governing bodies in tennis need to "fight harder for female players."

Aiava blamed the governing bodies for prioritizing making money from major tournaments over the needs of tennis players.

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Liberal reporter frustrates American tennis stars by asking the same tired question



The Australian Open has become about politics instead of tennis, thanks to one reporter's questions.

As men and women have won matches at the tournament in Melbourne, Australia, a male reporter has consistently popped up to ask players about their feelings about current U.S. politics.

'We are very diverse, we are a home of immigrants.'

"I've been asking a lot of the American players just how it feels to play under the American flag right now. And I'm curious how you feel," the man asked No.4-ranked Amanda Anisimova on Wednesday, with noted vocal fry.

Anisimova was praised for shutting the questions down, but it turns out the same reporter has asked the same divisive question to at least four other American tennis players.

The Women's Tennis Association's No.6-ranked Jessica Pegula faced almost the same question on Wednesday, though more specifically about living in Florida.

Pegula's answer likely won't please nationalists as much as Anisimova's did.

"Personally Florida's been, I think, OK. I think Florida, there's a big melting pot of different people from all over, in Florida," the 31-year-old went on. "So I feel like especially me being in South Florida, near Miami, I mean, there's people of all over the country that come to move to Florida, and there's a lot of international people that are there. I don't know if that's maybe why you kind of get a lot of different cultural differences in a good way honestly."

RELATED: 'I don't think that's relevant': American tennis star shuts down reporters fishing for anti-Trump answers

The reporter, who is alleged by several outlets such as Breitbart and Yahoo to likely be the Athletic's Owen Lewis, has not publicly confirmed he has asked the questions despite sharing that he has been in Australia covering the event.

Next up was men's No.9-ranked Taylor Fritz from California, who on Thursday had just completed a second-round win. Fritz buried his head in his hands as he answered the question, albeit reluctantly.

"Not sure what we're, like, specifically talking about, but there is a lot going on in the U.S., and I don't know, I feel like whatever I say here is going to get put in a headline, and it's going to get taken out of context," he groaned. "So I'd really rather not do something that's going to cause a big distraction for me in the middle of the tournament."

On Thursday, No.9-ranked female Madison Keys from Illinois faced the reporter. Her reaction was much more progressive than her compatriots, saying, "I'm not a fan of divisiveness, and I think the beauty of the U.S. is we are a mixing pot."

"We are very diverse, we are a home of immigrants. And I hope that we can get back to those values," she added.

RELATED: 'It's not fair': No. 1 women's tennis player states obvious truth about transgender athletes in women's sports

No.3-ranked woman and Florida native Coco Gauff took it a step further by bringing race politics into the mix with her response.

Gauff initially said she feels "a bit fatigued talking about it."

She then claimed, "It is hard, also I think, being a black woman in this country and having to experience things, even online."

She argued that "marginalized communities" are being affected, and the only thing she can do is "donate and speak out."

Gauff then cited the fact that she posted a Martin Luther King Jr. video online recently and said, "We must keep moving forward," as an example of her activism.

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​'I don't think that's relevant': American tennis star shuts down reporters fishing for anti-Trump answers​



A 24-year-old professional tennis player reminded reporters that politics has nothing to do with her sport.

Amanda Anisimova, born in New Jersey to Russian immigrants, is the No.4-ranked player in the Women's Tennis Association, just behind fellow American Coco Gauff.

'I don't think that's relevant.'

After a straight-set victory in the second round of the Australian Open, the American spoke to members of the media in Melbourne, Australia.

Lodged between questions regarding her recent performance was an oddly political query about how it feels to be representing America.

"I've been asking a lot of the American players just how it feels to play under the American flag right now. And I'm curious how you feel," a male reporter asked, using significant vocal fry.

Anisimova did not take the bait, replying, "I was born in America, so I'm always proud to represent my country. And yeah, a lot of us are doing really well, and it's great to see a lot of, you know, great athletes on the women's side, on the men's side."

Anisimova was likely referring to the current success her compatriots are having on the tour. Americans hold three of the top six positions in the women's tennis rankings currently, with several more in the top 30.

"I feel like we're all doing a great job representing ourselves," Anisimova added.

However the reporter wasn't ready to let the topic die just yet.

RELATED: 'It's not fair': No. 1 women's tennis player states obvious truth about transgender athletes in women's sports

"Sorry. Um, just to clarify a little," the man continued. "I mean, sort of in the context of the last year of everything that's been happening in the U.S., does that complicate that feeling at all?"

Anisimova seemed to think the follow-up question was unworthy of an answer.

"I don't think that's relevant," she said with a smirk.

Fans who watched the press conference on YouTube sided unanimously with the young star and pointed out that the press conference culminated with yet another political question. In fact, it was nearly identical to the first.

"America is a, you know, divided place at the moment, euphemistically," another male reporter prefaced. "Do you ever find it difficult or distracting to play under the American flag at the moment?"

Anisimova again brushed the question off.

RELATED: Tennis player labeled 'racist' for scolding black opponent after match: 'I was NEVER racist'

Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images

"I mean, I'm not planning to, you know, switch my nationality or represent a different country. I was born there, so it's not something that comes to my mind."

Women's tennis can be strangely political at times.

In fact, the WTA does not showcase the flag of its ranked players if they are from Russia. This includes world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 7 Mirra Andreeva. Three more Russians in the top 50 do not have Russian flags on their official WTA profiles either.

The same does not apply to Ukrainian athletes, as No. 20 Marta Kostyuk and No. 28 Dayana Yastremska have their flag proudly next to their names.

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'It's not fair': No. 1 women's tennis player states obvious truth about transgender athletes in women's sports



The top women's tennis player in the world was recently confronted with the idea that she might have a biological advantage over other women.

Aryna Sabalenka, the world's No. 1-ranked player in the Women's Tennis Association, is preparing for a "Battle of the Sexes" against Nick Kyrgios, who reached as high as No. 13 in the men's rankings in 2016.

To promote the event, the two appeared on "Piers Morgan Uncensored" where they were asked if they think it is fair when men, or transgender athletes, compete in women's sports.

'I feel like they still got a huge advantage over the women.'

Morgan prefaced his question by citing Martina Navratilova, a former tennis star who has been adamant about keeping men out of women's competitions.

"[Navratilova] says it's wrong for the Women's Tennis Association to allow trans women to compete in its events; do you agree with her?" Morgan asked.

"That's a tricky question," Sabalenka initially replied.

The Belarusian then stated the obvious biological reality.

"I have nothing to do against them. But I feel like they still got huge advantage over the woman, and I think it's just not fair to a woman to basically face, like, biologically man," she said.

The 27-year-old continued, "You know, it's not fair, like, the woman been working the whole life to reach her limit and then she has to face, like, a man, like, which biologically much stronger. So for me, I don't agree with this kind of stuff in sport."

Morgan then posed the question to Kyrgios, who quickly explained that he had "nothing to add" because he feels "the exact same way."

Sabalenka was not out of the woods yet because Morgan then brought up criticisms the athlete has faced from her competitors.

RELATED: 'XX XY': Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka's coach spotted wearing pro-biological women sports apparel during win over world No. 1

The British host referred to Marta Kostyuk, the No. 26-ranked women's tennis player. In October, the Ukrainian complained that Sabalenka is "bigger," "taller," and "stronger" than she is and that Sabalenka and another Polish player have biological advantages due to their testosterone levels.

"We all have our own biological structure. Some have a higher level of testosterone, some have lower. I know players who are good players who have higher levels of it," Kostyuk claimed, per Firstpost.

While Kostyuk said she's sure that her opponents aren't on drugs, the 23-year-old said it's "just the biology" of their bodies and that "definitely helps."

"I'm trying to see how I can beat these players with the tennis skills I have, but I have to work more than they have to win the points," she added.

Sabalenka laughed off these comments, telling Morgan that Kostyuk was just making "excuses."

"It's actually quite funny because she's a strong girl," she said. "She probably has more muscles than I do, and she looks fit and strong, and I think that's not the case in all of the matches she lost against our players."

RELATED: Tennis star stops match to make absurd demand about a baby in the crowd

Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images

In Britain, the governing Lawn Tennis Association essentially barred "transgender women" from playing in top women's tournaments in December 2024.

After conducting a formal review, the organization determined that the "average man" has an advantage when playing against the "average woman."

The new rules restrict "transgender women and nonbinary individuals assigned male at birth" from playing in top-tier and competitive women's tournaments.

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Serena Williams disgusted over cotton plant inside hotel — then it quickly backfires



Tennis legend Serena Williams recently asked her social media followers their opinions on some decor she found inside a New York City hotel.

Williams was in town for an event put on by apparel companies SKIMS and Nike, which included a walk on a red carpet with Kim Kardashian. On Thursday, Williams made a temporary Instagram story post from inside an unknown hotel room where she made a discovery.

'She has a thing against cotton??'

In a point-of-view video, Williams walks up to a cotton plant sitting on a table in a hallway and asks her audience, "All right, everyone. How do we feel about cotton as decoration?"

"Personally for me, it doesn't feel great," Williams stated.

In another post immediately after, Williams is shown wearing a one-piece gray suit with one leather glove on, while holding a piece of cotton in her hand.

"Feels like nail polish remover cotton," she noted. Williams then touched it to her fingernail before visibly cringing and walking out of frame.

Although there was no opportunity for viewers to leave comments on Williams' choice of video format, on other pages that reposted the clip, she did not garner any of the support she may have been looking for.

RELATED: Serena Williams and ‘The View' DEFINE ‘crip walking’ as black culture

On the page TheShadeRoom, black viewers overwhelmingly disagreed with Williams taking issue with the plant.

"I don't feel nothing about it!! It’s cute. She has a thing against cotton??" asked Gee Gee.

"I actually think it's beautiful [art] decoration," said a woman named Constance.

"They weren't out there for her to see it as an offensive gesture. ... It's decor," a man named Jay commented.

"It's a plant! We aren't picking it, giving free labor anymore! It's a beautiful plant," remarked Kiesha.

A few viewers inferred from Williams' video that she saw the decoration as racist, with a woman named Charlandra claiming, "Seeing raw cotton can evoke racial trauma, recalling the forced labor our ancestors endured while picking raw cotton! Some of these hotels do have racial undertones! It’s a weird looking plant."

At the same time though, kiky808 said, "Victim card race baiting bs while wearing a blonde wig."

RELATED: Coco Gauff: ‘I’m proud to represent the Americans that LOOK like me’

Serena Williams and Kim Kardashian attend the NikeSKIMS Launch Event at Nike House of Innovation on September 24, 2025, in New York City. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for SKIMS

But viewers on that page were not alone. Over on TMZ Sports, the vast majority of black commenters also saw no problem with the plant.

For example, Aurora commented, "It's a plant. They didn't ask you to pick it."

Another comment read, "Black woman here, I have cotton plant decorations all over my place, they're beautiful. Wrap this up."

Cathy, who listed Milan, Italy, as her residence, asked, "Do people in America not wear cotton clothes?"

A woman named Jamie asked an interesting question when she wrote, "I'm Asian ... should I be offended when people throw rice at weddings[?]"

While Williams did not explicitly say she felt the plant was a racist dog whistle, the overwhelming interpretation of her video and remarks indicated that she was, indeed, implying it.

In the past, Williams has received public support from the media surrounding allegedly racist cartoons and alleged sexism on the tennis court. Now that she's retired and not as frequently in the public eye, her support for these plights may be drying up.

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Tennis player labeled 'racist' for scolding black opponent after match: 'I was NEVER racist'



Tennis player Jelena Ostapenko was labeled "racist" by fans after she insulted opponent Taylor Townsend following a match at the 2025 U.S. Open.

Townsend hammered Ostapenko, winning in straight sets — 7-5, 6-1 — before the two shook hands at the end of play. Immediately after, and with Townsend saying "good match," the opponents got into an argument about tennis etiquette.

Etiquette, however, was not the actual problem. Rather, it was Ostapenko's alleged insults toward Townsend that some viewers believed were "racist."

'People get upset when they lose, and some people say bad things.'

"You have to say sorry," No. 26-ranked Ostapenko is heard saying on video. The rest of her rant toward 139-ranked Townsend remained a mystery until a subsequent on-court interview.

"Can you fill us in on the conversation you were having with Jelena," an ESPN reporter asked Townsend.

"Yeah, I mean, you know, it's competition. People get upset when they lose, and some people say bad things," the American began. "She told me I have no class. I have no education and to see what happens when we get outside the U.S."

Ostapenko is Latvian.

Townsend continued, strangely stating, "I'm looking forward to it. I mean, I beat her in Canada, outside the U.S. I beat her in New York, outside the U.S. So let's see what else she has to say."

Later at a press conference, Townsend was asked directly if she felt the Latvian's remarks had racial undertones.

RELATED: Tennis star stops match to make absurd demand about a baby in the crowd

"That's something that you're going to have to ask her," Townsend replied.

The 29-year-old then admitted that she did not feel the remarks were actually racist.

"I didn't take it in that way. But also, you know, that has been a stigma in our community of, you know, being non-educated and all the things when it's the furthest thing from the truth. And the thing that I'm the most proud of is that I let my racket talk," she said.

As reported by the Daily Mail, Ostapenko said on her social media account that she felt it was "very disrespectful" of Townsend when she "had a net ball in a very deciding momen[t] and didn't say sorry, but her answer was that she doesn’t have to say sorry at all."

"It was first time ever that this happened to me on tour ... if she plays in her homeland it doesn't mean that she can behave and do whatever she wants," the 28-year-old Latvian stated.

Ostapenko's social media has been flooded with claims that her on-court remarks were racist, with comments appearing on her Instagram page, such as: "Not only is your racism showing but so was your lack of class. You don't like the calls take it up with the ref."

Another user wrote, "I pray you learn how to take your losses and get rid of your racist thoughts and behavior. It's not a good look."

The athlete later responded to the claims on her page.

RELATED: Coco Gauff: ‘I’m proud to represent the Americans that LOOK like me’

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia (L) argues with Taylor Townsend of the United States (R) following their Women's Singles Second Round match on Day Four of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 27, 2025, in New York City. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

"Wow how many messages I received that I am a racist," Ostapenko wrote on Instagram. "I was NEVER racist in my life and I respect all nations of people in the world, for me it doesn't matter where you come from."

"There are some rules in tennis and unfortunately when the crowd is with you you can't use it in disrespectful way to your opponent," she continued.

"Unfortunately for me coming from such a small country I don't have that huge support and a chance to play in homeland," she added. "I always loved to play in the US and US OPEN, but this is the first time someone is approaching the match this disrespectful way."

Despite Townsend remarking that Ostapenko was not being racist at the time, she felt it necessary to declare she is representing black people when competing.

"Whether it had racial undertones or not, that's something she can speak on," the Illinois native stated.

"[I'm] very proud as a black woman being out here representing myself and representing us and our culture," she said. "I make sure that I do everything that I can to be the best representation possible every time that I step on the court and even off the court."

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