French Open defends 'pragmatic' stance in Osaka dealings

Paris: French Open organizers defended their "pragmatic” approach in their dealings with four-time major champion Naomi Osaka during the tournament, saying Sunday they tried to engage with her several times before she decided to withdraw because she needed a mental health break.

"We did it the right way,” French tennis federation president Gilles Moretton said at a news conference on the last day of the tournament. Osaka withdrew from Roland Garros after she was fined $15,000 for skipping the news conference after her first-round victory - and threatened by all four Grand Slam tournaments with the possibility of disqualification or suspension if she continued to avoid the media.