French Open defends 'pragmatic' stance in Naomi Osaka dealings
Tennis | June 13, 2021 17:46 ISTOsaka withdrew from Roland Garros after she was fined USD 15,000 for skipping the postmatch news conference.
Osaka withdrew from Roland Garros after she was fined USD 15,000 for skipping the postmatch news conference.
Tournament organisers said on Monday that Naomi, who had withdrawn exactly a week ago from Roland Garros, had informed them that she would not start in the Berlin tournament.
Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka put a renewed focus on mental health when she pulled out of the French Open on Monday and cited difficulties in dealing with "huge waves of anxiety."
Osaka, who also acknowledged suffering “long bouts of depression,” received criticism by some who say the media events are just “ part of the job. "
Speaking ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Hamilton was critical of the French Open organizers.
Other athletes, notably Olympian Michael Phelps, spoke candidly about mental-health issues before but none of them sparked a conversation this wide.
Osaka had decided to boycott press conferences during the ongoing Grand Slam - a move that had drawn flak - as he felt that the nature of questioning was often damaging to her mental health.
The pledge came in a statement signed by the same four tennis administrators who threatened the possibility of disqualification or suspension for Osaka on Sunday if she continued to skip news conferences.
French Tennis Federation president Gilles Moretton said he is expecting Naomi Osaka to return to Roland Garros next year after Japanese world No. 2 player withdrew from the Grand Slam due to mental health.
Following Naomi's decision to quit the Grand Slam tournament, support followed her from former and current tennis stars including the likes of Serena Williams, Martina Navratilova among others.
A dramatic turn of events for a four-time Grand Slam champion who said she experiences 'huge waves of anxiety' before speaking to the media and revealed she has 'suffered long bouts of depression'.
Osaka announced Wednesday in a Twitter post that she would not be taking part in news conferences during the French Open
Osaka returned to Roland Garros after skipping the trip last time, turning in a mistake-filled 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory over 63rd-ranked Patricia Maria Tig at Court Philippe Chatrier on Day 1 of the Grand Slam tournament.
The No. 2-ranked Osaka has said she won't participate in news conferences at Roland Garros — and she did not do a pre-tournament session with the media.
Having never progressed beyond the fourth round of a women's major, 19-year-old Iga broke through for her maiden Grand Slam title last year, upstaging American Sofia Kenin at the French Open in Paris.
Japanese sensation Naomi this week said that she would not face the media at Roland Garros as "people have no regard for athletes' mental health" during press conferences.
Naomi's total earnings amounted to $55.2 million, of which $5.2 million was from prize money, the highest payday ever for a female athlete.
The French Open is scheduled to begin Sunday in Paris. Osaka heads into the clay-court tournament ranked No. 2 in the world.
The second-ranked tennis player, who represents Japan, was asked about the games at the Italian Open on Sunday.
In another interesting quarter-final match-up, No. 1 seed from Australia, Ashleigh Barty could face Aryna Sabalenka in a rematch of the Stuttgart and Madrid Open finals.
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