Naomi Osaka withdraws from French Open, citing struggle with depression and anxiety

Naomi Osaka withdrew from the 2021 French Open on Monday, one day after she was fined $15,000 and threatened with suspension for her refusal to appear at tournament press conferences, writing that those media appearances caused "huge waves of anxiety."

Osaka had announced on the eve of the Grand Slam tournament that she would not speak to the media, to protect her mental health. "I think now 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," the four-time Grand Slam winner wrote in a lengthy post across social media. "I never wanted to be a distraction."