After her decision to boycott press conferences in the French Open, tennis superstar Naomi Osaka decided to totally withdraw from the prestigious tennis tournament citing mental stress.
TENNIS superstar Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the French Open following threats of disqualification after she decided to boycott post-match media duties at the tournament.
"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."
Osaka had been advised by the board of Grand Slam tennis tournaments that she would be exposing herself to "possible further code of conduct infringement consequences" should she continue her media boycott.
"Repeat violations attract tougher sanctions including default from the tournament and the trigger of a major offence investigation that could lead to more substantial fines and future Grand Slam suspensions."
Osaka was already fined $15,000 for skipping the news conference after her opening 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) victory over Romanian world number 63 Patricia Maria Tig.
She then tweeted after the match that: "anger is a lack of understanding. change makes people uncomfortable."
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam title winner and sport's highest-earning female athlete, announced on Twitter with a statement on the eve of the tournament that she would not carry out any media obligations.
She claimed news conferences are detrimental to her mental health and likening the traditional post-match inquests to "kicking people when they're down". (See also: Read my mind; Naomi Osaka brings awareness to athletes’ mental health by shunning press at the French Open )
Naomi said players who attend the media talks are asked questions they have
“answered multiple times or asked questions that bring doubts in their minds … I’m just not going to subject myself to people who doubt me.”
The board regarded her statements by adding that “the mental health of players competing in our tournaments and on the Tours is of the utmost importance to the Grand Slams.”
“The Australian Open, Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open jointly wrote to her to check on her well-being and offer support, underline their commitment to all athletes’ well-being and suggest dialog,” the statement also read.
Osaka has never been past the third round at Roland Garros and skipped the clay-court major last year shortly after winning the US Open.
However, after the first-round victory, she is set to move to the second round where she will meet another Romanian in Ana Bogdan before she decided to beg off from the tournament. (ONT/With report from Nicole Pulido)
Tags: #tennis, #NaomiOsaka, #mediaboycott, #FrenchOpen