Courtesy- Tennis World
Four-time grand slam winner Naomi Osaka on Wednesday stated that she won’t take press conferences during this year’s French open adduce mental health concerns.
She took to Twitter and opined that she’s not keen to participate in the press conferences during the Roland Garros as it affects an athlete’s mental health.
Naomi stated that we are made to sit there and answer the questions which have been already asked multiple times which brings doubt into our minds and I’m not going to subject myself to people that doubt me. She didn’t forget to mention that she has watched many clips of athletes where they break down during a press conference when they’ve faced a defeat.
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 26, 2021
World number two said the decision was “nothing personal” against the tournament or a couple of journalists she said she has a friendly relationship with and that she hoped tournaments would reconsider their approach. Many tennis tournament organizers want the players to speak to the media post-match else they find them.
Osaka also said in her tweet that she hoped the “considerable amount” that she expects to be fined will go towards a mental health charity.
The 23-year-old Japanese Tennis star was in news earlier this week when sports business website ‘Sportico’ reported she had earned $55.2 million over the past 12 months, a record haul for a female athlete.
French Open qualifiers are underway and the tournament is due to end on June 13.