Osaka withdraws from French Open after bitter row

Naomi Osaka

Japan’s Naomi Osaka stunned the French Open yesterday when she announced she was withdrawing from the tournament in the wake of her decision to boycott post-match media duties, explaining she had been suffering from depression for almost three years.Osaka said in the build-up to the tournament that she would not attend the obligatory press conferences, citing that the way journalists quiz players adversely impacts her mental well-being.The four-time Grand Slam champion made good on her threat on Sunday when, after winning her first round match, she did not hold a press conference.She was fined $15,000 by the Roland Garros referee and Grand Slam organisers later issued a statement warning of possible expulsion from the French Open and future majors if she fails to change her stance.Yesterday, the world number two decided to take matters into her own hands to end the stand-off.“This isn’t a situation I ever imagined or intended when I posted a few days ago,” the 23-year-old Osaka said on Twitter. “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.“I never wanted to be a distraction and I accept that my timing was not ideal and my message could have been clearer.”Osaka, one of the biggest names in women’s sport, went on to say she had suffered from depression since 2018.“The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018 and I have had a really hard time coping with that,” she said.“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.”After beating Serena Williams to claim her first major at the 2018 US Open, Osaka was booed by the crowd during the presentation ceremony as her victory was overshadowed by the American’s outburst following a row with the umpire.Osaka said that since then, she has struggled with being in the spotlight.There was no immediate response from tournament organisers.Osaka added that she later wanted to meet the sport’s organisers to improve the system.“I wrote privately to the tournament apologising and saying that I would be more than happy to speak with them after the tournament as the slams are intense,” Osaka said.“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.”All four Grand Slams — the French, Australian and US Opens as well as Wimbledon — had closed ranks to threaten her with potential suspension from future majors if she does not relent.Wim Fissette, the Belgian coach of the 23-year-old, said Osaka is “concerned with fundamental issues — she wants to bring about change”.“Naomi has the opportunity to use her status to address problems and to initiate things,” Fissette told German magazine Der Spiegel yesterday.“In the United States, athletes want more freedom in dealing with the press, so they are simply not threatened right away with punishment if they don’t feel well for a day.”Osaka’s sister, Mari, wrote on Reddit: “Naomi mentioned to me before the tournament that a family member had come up to her and remarked that she’s bad on clay.“At every press conference she’s told she has a bad record on clay.‘Not OK mentally’“When she lost in Rome, she was not OK mentally. She was completely shattered and I think everyone’s remarks and opinions have gotten to her head and she herself believed that she was bad on clay.”Mari, a former tour player, later posted a follow-up message after herself receiving criticism for the wording of her original statement.“My message has gone horribly wrong with people struggling for mental health. I hadn’t realised that Naomi had a lot of shit to deal with and was fighting very honestly for the cause of mental health. Now people are reacting like ‘she can’t stand criticism’. Sorry Naomi, I probably made it worse.”US tennis legend Billie Jean King attempted to strike a conciliatory tone, claiming that the media, while playing a crucial role in the sport “needs to respect certain boundaries”.Even the French Open official website came under fire for what was perceived as a direct criticism of Osaka when it tweeted photos of Rafael Nadal, Kei Nishikori, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff all smiling under the caption: ‘They understood the assignment’.Former world doubles number one Rennae Stubbs described the post as “some serious shade”.“Making a player feel guilty & humiliating her is NOT a good look for a tennis fed,” Stubbs said.