Naomi Osaka recently during a press conference. (Getty Images)
Naomi Osaka withdrew from the ongoing Roland Garros 2021 yesterday
World No.2 Japanese tennis sensation Naomi Osaka pulled out from the French Open 2021 yesterday. She released a statement on her Twitter account confirming the same.
Just a few days prior to her first-round match at the French Open, Osaka had released an elaborate statement that she wouldn’t be attending any press conferences at the French Open. The reason for the same was people’s disregard towards others’ mental health, especially the press.
This is what a part of her statement read:
“I’m writing this to say I’m not going to do any press during Roland Garros. I’ve often felt that people have no regard for athletes’ mental health and this rings very true whenever I see a press conference or partake in one.”
Her statement was met with widespread support from various celebrities across the globe, also acknowledging the importance of mental health and depression.
On the 30th of May, Osaka was scheduled to take on Patricia Maria Tig in the first round of her French Open campaign. She beat the Romanian in straight sets, and following her victory she skipped the first press conference, as already mentioned.
As a result of skipping the presser she was slapped with a fine of $15000, and was warned of being banned from further major tournaments if she continued to do the same.
In a dramatic turn of events, Osaka decided to pull out from the French Open, a day after receiving a warning from the French Open officials.
She then released a long statement on social media confirming the same.
Osaka’s statement was all about mental health and depression and the statement even revealed that she ‘has been suffering’ from depression since the 2018 US Open.
She also felt that the distraction caused at the tournament due to her ‘media-boycott’ was overwhelming and her withdrawal from the tournament would possibly turn the attention back to the courts.
The statement also mentioned that she would be taking some time off in a bid to recover and get back in action.
Here is what her statement read in full:
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