Posted on 05/31/2021 12:54:57 PM PDT by Conserv
Naomi Osaka will not play in this year's French Open.
After winning her fourth Grand Slam title at this year's Australian Open, Osaka announced her withdrawal from the second Grand Slam of the season on Monday. In a statement shared on social media, Osaka explained that she would be skipping the clay-court tournament to protect her mental well-being.
"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," Osaka said in the statement.
"I never wanted to be a distraction and I accept that my timing was not ideal and my message could have been clearer. More importantly I would never trivialize mental health or use the term lightly. 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."
Ahead of the French Open, Osaka announced her pledge to skip post-match press conferences. After her first-round match win against Patricia Maria Tig on Sunday, Osaka stood by her word and was handed a fine for her actions.
Osaka, the world's No. 2 ranked women's singles player, was fined $15,000 for not participating in a mandatory post-match press conference and was also given a warning that if she continues to not speak with the media she could risk even stronger penalties. She was risking default from the French Open and the tournament organizers at Roland Garros said there could be "more substantial fines and future Grand Slam suspensions."
Osaka has not made it past the third round at the French Open in her three career appearances. Last year, she was forced to withdraw because of a nagging hamstring injury. In 2019, Osaka lost to Karolina Pliskova and in 2018, she lost to Madison Keys. Both matches were straight-set losses.
but "little miss know it all" Osaka really takes the F'ing cake.
whats that joke about why doctors slap a newborns bottom....
Life goes on, with out her
Native born Japanese with a Haitian father. I can only imagine. They probably left Japan to avoid the way they were shunned. School would have been living hell for her. Then she comes to the USA where she’s fed a diet of wokeism. So she rejects the country that at least would give her an even break. Is she going to go back to Japan?
How will that work out for ya?
Not sure I care. No, I don’t. But to be forced to play to media interviews instead of just playing the game... Probably tired of inane questions. Good for her.
I dunno- can you blame her for not wanting to talk to the media? Works out just dandy for the imposter pResident.
Snowflake
I agree, mandatory submission to morons asking idiotic questions cannot be much fun.
Why should anyone be forced to talk with the degenerate media?
I would never, under any circumstances, talk to a paid propagandist.
It’s part of her job description.
Osaka and Marshawn Lynch are two of the biggest babies on the planet.
Don’t forget Kyle Bush
Steve Carlton hated talking to the idiot media. I always supported him. It should not be part of a contract, same as the fake community involvement.
And look at how much they intimidate her into doing it. You don’t own yourself but are just controlled. It’s not freedom. And I don’t care that she’s a drama queen.
good for her. what the hell does media have to do with her game? Not a damn thing.
She doesn’t, or shouldn’t ,have to play nicey-nice with a bunch of jackals.
I disagree. She’s living the good life and the media requirement is part of being a professional. She needs to grow up.
She is in the public eye & has a life most striving athletes can only dream of. Talk to the press & deal with it.
Does she have any paid endorsements?
I’m sure she could strictly play tennis if she really wanted to. 🤑
She got worldwide press out of this. Pretty slick, don’t you think?
Media is part of the contract and helps facilitate those multi million dollars she is making. Without media those juicy dollars would not be available.
No. People are getting F’ing sick of her.
You want to play for the big $$, Osaka? Then do what’s required.
So you support the mainstream media and think they should rule over us?
She could play tennis in her backyard. If she wants to play the circuits then she has to follow their rules.
If she is too fragile to withstand competition then she should retire.
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