Osaka Fined $15000 May Be Expelled

World Number 2, Naomi Osaka has been fined $15,000 and may be expelled from the French Open tournament.

Gatekeepers News reports that World Number 2, Naomi Osaka has been fined $15,000 for avoiding the French Open post-match press conference and she currently risks disqualification from the tournament.

On Wednesday, the four-time Grand Slam Singles Champion announced that she would not be attending any press conference during the French Open, citing mental health reasons.

Osaka wrote, “I’ve often felt that people have no regard for athletes’ mental health and this rings very true whenever I see a press conference or partake in one.

“We’re often sat there and asked questions that we’ve been asked multiple times before or asked questions that bring doubt into our minds and I’m just not going to subject myself to people that doubt me.”

Roland-Garros said it earlier asked Osaka to reconsider her decision and in non-compliance to that, stated that,

“Following the lack of engagement by Naomi Osaka, the Australian Open, Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open jointly wrote to her to check on her well-being and offer support, underline their commitment to all athletes’ well-being and suggest dialog on the issue,” the statement reads. “She was also reminded of her obligations, the consequences of not meeting them, and that rules should equally apply to all players.”

“We have advised Naomi Osaka that should she continue to ignore her media obligations during the tournament, she would be exposing herself to possible further Code of Conduct infringement consequences.

“As might be expected, repeat violations attract tougher sanctions including default from the tournament (Code of Conduct Article III T.) and the trigger of a major offence investigation that could lead to more substantial fines and future Grand Slam suspensions (Code of Conduct article IV A.3.).”

Meanwhile, the French Open on its official Twitter handle had praised players for attending the media conferences. Pictures of Rafa Nadal, Kei Nishikori, Aryna Sabalenka, and Coco Gauff while they were engaging the media was tweeted with the caption: “They understood the assignment.”

Although the tweet was later deleted, but not until it was circulated on social media platforms, generating lots of criticisms from tennis fans and social media users.

Four-Time Grand Slam Doubles winner Rennae Stubbs while reacting to this, tweeted:

“This is some serious shade from Roland Garros & the FFT [French Tennis Federation].

“I understand your attempt at making a point but this isn’t a good look. I mean these particular players are a great look for tennis but making a player feel guilty & humiliating her is NOT a good look for a tennis fed.”

However, Osaka had enjoyed a perfect start to her French Open campaign, beating Romania’s Patricia Maria Tig in straight sets — 6-4 7-6 (7-4) — on Sunday.

Although the 23-year-old has never been past the third round at the clay-court major in Paris, she looked powerful in her first-round match.

Osaka, while responding to her footwork which occasionally let her down, said, “I would say it’s a work in progress. Hopefully, the more I play, the better it will get.” She stated this after her win.

She is to face Ana Bogdan of Romania next.