World Number 2, Naomi Osaka has pulled out of the ongoing French Open.
Gatekeepers News reports that World Number 2, Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the ongoing French Open, following her decision to boycott media activity.
Last week, the Japanese Tennis Player announced that she would not be granting any press conference at the Roland Garros, citing her mental health as an excuse.
The French Open organisers, however, stated that it already spoke to her to reconsider but she refused.
Gatekeepers News earlier on Monday, reported that the organisers fined her $15,000 and threatened to disqualify her if she continues to boycott the media.
In response to this, Osaka in a Tweet on Monday said,
“The best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris.
“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,” she said last week.”
She stated that she “suffered long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018 and I have had a really hard time coping with that”.
“Anyone that knows me knows I’m introverted, and anyone that has seen me at the tournaments will notice that I’m often wearing headphones as that helps dull my social anxiety.
“Though the tennis press has always been kind to me (and I wanna apologise especially to all the cool journalists who I may have
hurt), I am not a natural public speaker and get huge waves of anxiety before I speak to the world’s media.”
“I’m gonna take some time away from the court now, but when the time is right I really want to work with the Tour to discuss ways we can
make things better for the players, press, and fans.”
Osaka noted that she has also apologised to the organisers over the affair which has dominated the early stages of the French Open ever since she warned last week.
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 31, 2021
President, French Tennis Federation, Gilles Moretton in reaction to this, said “we are sorry and sad for Naomi Osaka that she has withdrawn from the tournament”.
Moretton had earlier described Osaka’s decision of silence as “a phenomenal error”.
However, the four Grand Slam events – Wimbledon, the French, Australian, and US Opens – said they had written to Osaka “to check on her well-being and offer support”.
According to them, “She was also reminded of her obligations, the consequences of not meeting them, and that rules should equally apply to all players.”
