Naomi Osaka urges USA to “evolve” after fleeing alleged shooting

Naomi Osaka has urged America to “evolve” amid recent mass shootings, after she was forced to run away from alleged gunshots outside the Barclays Center on Saturday night. 

Osaka was at the arena to watch Gervonta Davis’ boxing fight against Rolando Romero, but was left “petrified” when she heard what she believed to be gunshots. 

“I was just in the Barclays Center and suddenly I heard shouting and saw people running,” she said. “Then we were being yelled at that there was an active shooter and we had to huddle in a room and close the doors, I was so fu**ing petrified man.” 

The tennis star revealed she had to “huddle in a room and close the doors”, though she was unharmed in the end. 

Now, Osaka has reflected on what happened to her on Saturday and says she “cannot imagine a future” if these sorts of incidents continue to occur. 

Posting on her Twitter account, Osaka admitted she has become used to hearing news about shootings and that something has to change. 

“I’m not sure when it happened, but over many years I became accustomed to news about mass shootings,” she wrote.

“It felt as though we just kept repeating the same terrible cycle to the point where I felt my brain turn a switch and start preparing for possibilities in case I would be in a similar situation. 

“I used to love going to the movies, now on the rare occasion I do go away, I always feel my heart clench and my palms become sweaty every time I see a person enter the theatre while the movie is ongoing.”

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She added: “My experience the other day made me think a lot. I was lucky enough to have a security guard with me and I cannot imagine having to navigate through that situation by yourself, let alone being a