Yahoo Sport'F***ing petrified': Naomi Osaka caught up in 'scary' shooter confusion
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- Naomi OsakaJapanese tennis player
- Rolando RomeroAmerican boxer
- Novak DjokovicSerbian tennis player
Naomi Osaka has opened up about the scary moment fans started running at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn after reports of a gun man.
Osaka visited the high-profile boxing match between Gervonta 'Tank' Davis and Rolly Romero in Brooklyn over the weekend after being eliminated from the French Open.
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Davis won the bout in the sixth round after a vicious knockdown prompted the referee to call the fight off as a result of a TKO.
However, following the bout, fans were seen fleeing when a loud bang was heard outside.
This prompted reports that there could be an active shooter in the building.
ESPN reporter Mike Coppinger said there were reports of a man with a gun in the foyer of the building.
A loud bang was heard outside the building, which prompted scenes of people fleeing back inside.
This prompted Osaka to express her fear and concern straight after the chaos having attended the boxing fight.
A Barclays Center security supervisor told ESPN there was a person with a gun in the main plaza that led to a stampede back into the arena. Multiple people transported to hospital. Official estimated approximately a dozen injuries. Among them: a concussion and an elbow injury. https://t.co/LPfMO5qPzT
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) May 29, 2022
I really hope everyone made it out safely, since I’m tweeting this we made it out ok.
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 29, 2022
I was inside Barclays Center and end of fight, as everybody was clearing out, there were reports of gunshots. I didn’t hear them but security guard said report on radio was it occurred on concourse. Crazy stampede of people followed. Scary scene.
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) May 29, 2022
Scary moment as crowds pour back into Barclays Center, my fear was a shooting but those fears proved unfounded. pic.twitter.com/pcBdfwWplt
— Ryan Songalia (@ryansongalia) May 29, 2022
Osaka later expanded on her thoughts surrounding the gun laws in the United States and said the current situation is 'insanity'.
current thoughts. pic.twitter.com/U1xQJa4jF1
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 29, 2022
Police told Reuters that there was a "sound disturbance" but "no shooting" and "no gun."
"People heard loud noises and thought it was gunfire," a New York City police spokesman said.
"It was nothing more than that. There were 10 minor injuries.
Naomi Osaka unsure over Wimbledon participation
Osaka was eliminated in the First Round of the French Open and following the tough loss the four-time grand slam champion admitted she could also skip Wimbledon.
The four-time grand slam champion lost 7-5, 6-4 to Anisimova - a 20-year-old American who also beat Osaka in the third round at the Australian Open in January.
Speaking in her post-match press conference, Osaka revealed she's likely to skip Wimbledon because of the WTA and ATP's decision to strip the tournament of rankings points.
Osaka said the decision is “is kind of affecting my mentality” and she is “not 100 per cent sure if I’m going to go there.”
“I’m leaning more towards not playing given the current circumstances. I’m the type of player that gets motivated by seeing my ranking go up,” she said.
with Reuters
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