The tennis champion has been speaking out about mental health.
Naomi Osaka Wins Best Female Athlete at the ESPY Awards Following French Open Exit
Just a few days after Naomi Osaka took a stand to protect her mental health, the four-time Grand Slam winner has dropped out of the 2021 French Open, also known as Roland Garros. Here's exactly what went down.
Naomi Osaka announced she would not participate in press at the French Open.On May 27, the tennis star explained her decision in an Instagram post, which has since been deleted. “I’m writing this to say I’m not going to do any press during Roland Garros,” she wrote, per British Vogue. “I’ve often felt that people have no regard for athletes’ mental health and this rings true whenever I see a press conference or partake in one.”
“We’re often sat there and asked questions that we’ve been asked multiple times before or asked questions that bring doubt into our minds and I’m just not going to subject myself to people that doubt me,” the 23-year-old continued, likening questions about losses to “kicking a person while they’re down.”
She added, “I've watched many clips of athletes breaking down after a loss in the press room and I know you have as well.”
Venus Williams replied, “Girl, do you. Your life is yours to live!”
Naomi Osaka at the 2021 French Open
Tim Clayton - CorbisAfter making good on her promise not to speak to the press after her first-round win on May 30, all four Grand Slam tournaments—Roland Garros, Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open—released a joint statement.
“Naomi Osaka today chose not to honour her contractual media obligations. The Roland-Garros referee has therefore issued her a $15,000 fine, in keeping with article III H. of the Code of Conduct,” they wrote. “The mental health of players competing in our tournaments and on the Tours is of the utmost importance to the Grand Slams.”
Despite that pledge, the organizations insisted that the fine was a matter of fairness to other players. "We want to underline that rules are in place to ensure all players are treated exactly the same, no matter their stature, beliefs, or achievement,” read the statement. “As a sport there is nothing more important than ensuring no player has an unfair advantage over another, which unfortunately is the case in this situation if one player refuses to dedicate time to participate in media commitments while the others all honor their commitments.”
Osaka was also warned that she could face disqualification or even suspension if she continues to avoid the media.
On May 31, Osaka dropped out of the tournament.“Hey everyone, this isn't a situation I ever imagined or intended when I posted a few days ago,” she began. “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.”
She continued that she “never wanted to be a distraction” and opened up about her years-long battle with depression. “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."
“I am not a natural public speaker and get huge waves of anxiety before I speak to the world's media,” she said in the statement, which was posted to Twitter and Instagram. “I get really nervous and find it stressful to always try and engage and give you the best answers I can.”
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Osaka added that her choice was an act of self-care and admitted that she spoke out because she found the rules surrounding the press to be outdated. However, she says she still apologized privately to the tournament and said she offered to speak further about her thoughts after the tournament.
“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,” she concluded. “Anyways hope you are all doing well and staying safe, love you guys I'll see you when I see you.”
Osaka is receiving a ton of support online.Jameela Jamil is even calling for a boycott of the French Open.
https://twitter.com/jameelajamil/status/1399429813962690560
https://twitter.com/MardyFish/status/1399444057194057729
https://twitter.com/donnabrazile/status/1399443568620625929
https://twitter.com/TechnicallyRon/status/1399441127464443905
https://twitter.com/JulianCastro/status/1399435570590400517
Serena Williams has also voiced her support. “I feel for Naomi,” she said, per the Associated Press. “Not everyone is the same. I'm thick. Other people are thin. Everyone is different and everyone handles things differently. You just have to let her handle it the way she wants to and the best way she thinks she can. That's the only thing I can say: I think she is doing the best she can.”
Eighteen-time Grand Slam singles champion Martina Navratilova also spoke out:
https://twitter.com/Martina/status/1399443582671540231
And tennis legend Billie Jean King posted, “It’s incredibly brave that Naomi Osaka has revealed her truth about her struggle with depression. Right now, the important thing is that we give her the space and time she needs. We wish her well.”
https://twitter.com/BillieJeanKing/status/1399460549407219712
Check out some more tweets of support from athletes, below:
https://twitter.com/LisaLeslie/status/1399462266857197571
https://twitter.com/kevinlove/status/1399382323309826058
https://twitter.com/StephenCurry30/status/1399449337575337985Nike shared a statement of support.
The sportswear giant, and one of Osaka's sponsors, gave People a brief statement on June 1: "Our thoughts are with Naomi. We support her and recognize her courage in sharing her own mental health experience."
Osaka thanked supporters for “all the love.”The tennis champ took to Instagram Stories on June 5 to thank her fans for the support. “Just want to say thank you for all the love,” she wrote, per Harper's Bazaar. “Haven’t been on my phone much, but I wanted to hop on here and tell you all that I really appreciate it.”
Osaka withdrew from Wimbledon ahead of the Olympics.According to her reps, Osaka is focusing on her personal life ahead of the 2021 Olympics and will not be playing in Wimbledon this year. She will be competing for Japan in the global sporting event, which takes place in Tokyo starting this July.
“Naomi won't be playing Wimbledon this year. She is taking some personal time with friends and family,” her agent Stuart Duguid said in a statement on June 17, per People. “She will be ready for the Olympics and is excited to play in front of her home fans.”
Naomi Osaka at the 2021 ESPY Awards.
GettyOn July 11, Osaka took home a big prize at the ESPY Awards in New York City. “I just really want to not say a long speech because I'm a bit nervous … I know this year has been really, it hasn't even finished, but it's been really tough for a lot of us,” she said in her speech, per People. "For me, I just want to say, I really love you guys and this is my first ESPYs so it's really cool to be surrounded by all these incredible athletes. I think all of you guys are really cool and I watch some of you on TV so it's really surreal to be here and yeah, thank you so much and I really appreciate it."
This comes just a few days after the tennis champion penned a powerful personal essay for Time. Click here to read in full.
This post will be updated as more information arises.
This story originally appeared on: Glamour - Author:Condé Nast
