“Blood on your hands”: Anti-Israel protests disrupt Naomi Osaka’s match in Auckland

Naomi Osaka faced Israel's No. 1 player, Lina Glushko, in the first round of the ASB Classic. The 4-time Grand Slam champion claimed a solid straight-sets victory, 6-4, 6-4, in a match that featured an added layer of tension due to anti-Israel protests outside the court.

Videos circulating on social media reveal the tense atmosphere, with shouts from the protestors audible during points. At one point in the first set, chants of “Blood, blood, blood on your hands” could be clearly heard.

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Lina Glushko’s controversial pro-Israel posts resurface after loss to Naomi Osaka: 'If you support this, you’re not a human being to me'

Glushko, playing only her second WTA main draw, first appeared in a WTA event at the Monterrey Open, where she entered the draw as a lucky loser.

This marked the first time Glushko successfully navigated through qualifiers, but her presence in the draw sparked protests against the inclusion of an Israeli player in the tournament. The world No. 221 is currently the only Israeli player ranked inside the top 500.

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ASB Classic 2025: Naomi Osaka kicks off with a hard-fought victory over Glushko

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