Naomi Osaka is putting her mental health first. The tennis champion posted a statement on Twitter on May 26 saying that she would not be doing any press during the French Open.
The four-time Grand Slam champion is used to playing on hard courts. The French Open uses clay tennis courts, and after four failed attempts, Osaka has only made it to the third round at the Paris tournament. Playing on clay tennis courts differs because the movement can be slower than playing on hard-surfaced courts.
“Hey everyone, hope you’re all doing well. I’m writing this to say I’m not going to do any press during Roland Garros. I’ve often thought that people have no regard for athletes’ mental health and this rings very 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.
I’ve watched many clips of athletes breaking down after a loss in the press room and I know you have as well. I believe that the whole situation is kicking a person while they’re down and I don’t understand the reasoning behind it. Me not doing press is nothing personal to the tournament and a couple of the journalists have interviewed me since I was young, so I have a friendly relationship with most of them.
However, if the organizations think that they can just keep saying “Do press or you’re gonna be fined,“ and continue to ignore the mental health of the athletes that are the centerpieces of their corperations then I just gotta laugh. Anyways, I hope the considerable amount that I get fined for this will go towards a mental health charity. xoxo
?
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— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 26, 2021
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Her coach, Wim Fissette, believes that Osaka can also dominate on a clay tennis court one day. Fissette also said that Osaka understands what is necessary to excel on the clay courts and is motivated to fight hard during the French Open.
“I see the possibilities of Naomi on clay, I believe in her chances and the more matches she plays on it, the more dangerous she will become on this surface,” said Fissette. “But she does need time and hours on the court to feel really well on it and to make this click, like, ‘This is how we have to play on it’.”
The coach added that we shouldn’t rule out Osaka playing well in the tournament and winning the French Open one day.
“I am convinced that Naomi Osaka will win Roland-Garros one day”
Coach @wimfissette and seven-time champion @ChrissieEvert share their insights on translating the No. 2’s game to clay ?#RolandGarros
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 28, 2021
Athletes are fined for not participating in the press conferences at tournaments, and Osaka could face up to $140,000 in fines depending on how she plays in the tournament.
Osaka is the highest-paid female athlete globally, so if sis doesn’t want to do any press to concentrate on her game, sis doesn’t need to do any press at the tournament. Osaka also has a handbag collection with Strathberry and her own skincare line called KINLÒ. She said that she hoped the money she is fined for not doing press would go to a mental health charity.
The tournament began on May 24 and will conclude on June 13.
