US Open doubles champ raises social issues with shirt, words

Dutch tennis player Jean-Julien Rojer wore a shirt showing the Statue of Liberty while winning the U.S. Open men's doubles championship on Friday to send what he called a message about peace and freedom in the aftermath of last month's violence at a rally of neo-Nazis and white nationalists in Charlottseville, Virginia.

Jean-Julien Rojer, of Holland, left, and Horia Tecau, of Romania, hold up the championship trophy after beating Marc Lopez and Feliciano Lopez, both of Spain, in the doubles final of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

"I just wanted to have the conversation going (by) promoting ... freedom and justice, liberty, for everybody on gender issues, on racial issues, which we deal a lot with in this country," said Rojer, who was born in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, and moved to Florida when he was 12 to work with a private coach.

"I feel in tennis we don't say much about it, but this is just tennis," Rojer said. "We deal with real life issues out there."

Rojer and his doubles partner, Horia Tecau of Romania, won their first title at Flushing Meadows by beating the 11th-seeded Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez 6-4, 6-3 in the final.

Dutch tennis player Jean-Julien Rojer, left, talks with ESPN reporter Tom Rinaldi as doubles partner Horia Tech, of Romania, listens, after the two won the doubles championship match against Marc Lopez, and Feliciano Lopez, of Spain after the doubles championship match of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

During the on-court trophy ceremony in Arthur Ashe Stadium, Rojer spoke about his yellow T-shirt with a black-and-white image of the Statue of Liberty and red, white and blue stripes across the chest. He said it's part of a clothing line made by a friend of his.

"The idea came after the tragic incident in Charlottesville, and we came up with this line, promoting peace and freedom and liberty," Rojer said. "Hopefully we're moving in that direction. I've been here since I'm 12 years old and I'm happy they let me in and I got to do my job here. So hopefully we will create those opportunities for everybody."

Tecau said that professional athletes should feel free to state their political views.

"It's nice to send this message and spread it, because you have a lot of people that look up to you. Jules is an outspoken guy. You know, he'll talk more than other players, but I think as role models for the generations that are behind us, the young generation, it's important to see that, as well," Tecau said. "We're not just athletes competing, you know, for Slams and prize money and glory."

Jean-Julien Rojer, of Holland, right, returns a shot as doubles partner Horia Tecau, of Romania, looks on during the championship doubles match of the U.S. Open tennis tournament against Marc Lopez and Feliciano Lopez, both of Spain, Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Added Rojer, who was an All-American tennis player at UCLA: "It's important that everybody do their job or do their part, and that's how you make either change or progress, because we do it. And maybe I change five people's minds, you know. It's a step in the right direction. ... But we all have a platform and we have to be conscious of our actions and respectful of each other."

This is the second Grand Slam title for the 12th-seeded Tecau and Rojer, who also won Wimbledon in 2015.

They are currently on a 10-match winning streak, including a victory over top-seeded Henri Kontinen and John Peers in the U.S. Open semifinals.

"It's tough when you get to these matches. Tension, expectations, everything around. People start calling you. Messages. But you just try to stay focused (on) one more match," Tecau said. "That's what we did so well towards the end of the tournament. Pushed each other to stay focused one more match and to execute."

The two Lopezes, who are not related, won the 2016 French Open.

Marc Lopez, lower left, and Feliciano Lopez, both of Spain, slap hands after winning a point against Horia Tecau, of Romania, top right, and Jean-Julien Rojer, of Holland, during the championship match of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Jean-Julien Rojer, of Holland, right, and Horia Tecau, of Romania talk between serves to Marc Lopez and Feliciano Lopez, both of Spain, during the championship doubles match of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Horia Tecau, of Romania, left, and Jean-Julien Rojer, of Holland, celebrate after beating Feliciano Lopez, of Spain, and Marc Lopez in the doubles final of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

TOKYO (AP) — The American envoy to the United Nations called Friday for countries armed with atomic weapons to pursue nuclear disarmament as she visited the atomic bomb museum in Nagasaki, Japan.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who became the first U.S. cabinet member to visit Nagasaki, stressed the importance of dialogue and diplomacy amid a growing nuclear threat in the region.

“We must continue to work together to create an environment for nuclear disarmament. We must continue to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons in every corner of the world,” she said after a tour of the atomic bomb museum.

“For those of us who already have those weapons, we must pursue arms control. We can and must work to ensure that Nagasaki is the last place to ever experience the horror of nuclear weapons,” she added, standing in front of colorful hanging origami cranes, a symbol of peace.

The United States dropped the world’s first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, destroying the city and killing 140,000 people. A second attack three days later on Nagasaki killed 70,000 more people. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, ending World War II and its nearly half-century of aggression in Asia.

Nagasaki Gov. Kengo Oishi said in a statement that he believed Thomas-Greenfield's visit and her first-person experience at the museum “will be a strong message in promoting momentum of nuclear disarmament for the international society at a time the world faces a severe environment surrounding atomic weapons.”

Oishi said he conveyed to the ambassador the increasingly important role of Nagasaki and Hiroshima in emphasizing the need of nuclear disarmament.

Thomas-Greenfield's visit to Japan comes on the heels of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's official visit to the United States last week and is aimed at deepening Washington's trilateral ties with Tokyo and Seoul. During her visit to South Korea earlier this week, she held talks with South Korean officials, met with defectors from North Korea and visited the demilitarized zone.

The ambassador said the United States is looking into setting up a new mechanism for monitoring North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Russia and China have thwarted U.S.-led efforts to step up U.N. sanctions on North Korea over its ballistic missile testing since 2022, underscoring a deepening divide between permanent Security Council members over Russia’s war on Ukraine.

She said it would be “optimal” to launch the new system next month, though it is uncertain if that is possible.

The U.N. Security Council established a committee to monitor sanctions, and the mandate for its panel of experts to investigate violations had been renewed for 14 years until last month, when Russia vetoed another renewal.

In its most recent report, the panel of experts said it is investigating 58 suspected North Korean cyberattacks between 2017 and 2023 valued at approximately $3 billion, with the money reportedly being used to help fund its weapons development.

The United States, Japan and South Korea have been deepening security ties amid growing tension in the region from North Korea and China.

U.S. Ambassador to United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, left, and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, right, shake hands during a meeting Friday, April 19, 2024, at prime minister's office in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)

U.S. Ambassador to United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, left, and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, right, shake hands during a meeting Friday, April 19, 2024, at prime minister's office in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)

U.S. Ambassador to United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, right, speaks to Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Ambassador to Japan, second right, as they wait for a meeting with Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Friday, April 19, 2024, at prime minister's office in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)

U.S. Ambassador to United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, left, and Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Ambassador to Japan, right, walk to meet Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Friday, April 19, 2024, at prime minister's office in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)

U.S. Ambassador to United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, left, and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, right, talk prior to a meeting Friday, April 19, 2024, at prime minister's office in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)

U.S. Ambassador to United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, left, and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, right, prepare to talk during a meeting Friday, April 19, 2024, at prime minister's office in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)