After a one-day break in the tournament prompted by her decision to speak out, Naomi Osaka reached her first Western & Southern title match following a win over Elise Mertens.

NEW YORK — After two days of little sleep and unexpected stress, Naomi Osaka rose to the moment.

The two-time Grand Slam champion returned to the court after bringing the push for racial justice to the forefront on the tennis tour, and she advanced to the finals of the Western & Southern Open on Friday with a straight-set victory.

This one meant a lot.

“Of course I feel extra pressure now that there’s more eyes watching me,” she said.

After a one-day break in the tournament prompted by her decision to speak out, Osaka reached her first Western & Southern title match by gritting out a 6-2, 7-6 (5) victory over Elise Mertens.

The 22-year-old Osaka was hoping someone else in tennis would take