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.
No. I just like sports.
I like Osaka. Its about time the leftist press were told to back off.
In my book fighting the opress is an art form. {resident Trump did it every day.
Osaka will be a hero at home. Manners are paramount in Japan. In France, not so much.
China is also part of system put money in business today. So I take it you are for complete kowtowing to China. What you say about the media, goes double for China. She can go play in her backyard if she cant handle the contract she signed
It amazes me that people like you will give up every shred of freedom you have for a few pennies. (Spoiler: You could make just as much or mire money by asserting your freedom.)
he had no problems that he ever spoke....very jovial personality.
I am on the side of the french open on this. If she is too mentally fragile she can just play in her backyard
It goes both ways, the media needs sports et. for their business to succeed. You say we have to do whatever the media says, or else they'll take their ball and go home. How is that going to work out for them? The media's presence in business does not mean anyone has to surrender to them.
Yes. You’ve exposed me. I’m a Communist.
Nothing gets by you.
Also, I believe the expectation was that she would just PARTICIPATE in the presser.
Where did you read that her content of her comments would be driven by china?
Why does anyone care what she says to the media??? Watch her play tennis if you wish, but what she has to say is meaningless to the game...
Same with all athletes...Who gives a crap about what LeBron James says or thinks???
Her dopey @SS bf probably had a hand in this.
Use your brain. I didn't say she would make comments about China. The NBA forbids executives and players for criticizing China, because of the money China's going to bring in. By your logic, all players and executives have to only say positive things about China, because that's the business interest of the team.
How dare you criticize our media overlords!
CEOs should be forced to talk to the media. Anyone should be forced to talk to an investigative reporters. Political candidates should be forced to speak with the media. Trump should have been forced to no matter how the media treated them.
It used to be the media had to act responsibly, or they might not get what they needed.
But thanks to people like you, the media has no obligation to act responsibly anymore. Since we preemptively surrender to them, they can get away with whatever they want to do.
But we have to sell them the rope, that's part of the business!
You know, you’re quite nuts about this. Completely over the top, stupid, raving, and just plain useless.
It’s her job. She chose this job. She understood the rules. Now she doesn’t like them.
The media could have a press conference in their backyard. If they wants to have coverage then they can act responsibly.
Why does the media get special privileges?
Who won that war? Oh yeah. Proving again you’ve full fledged turned off your brain on this issue.
The media can act responsibly, if they want coverage. It’s a business for them too, and they need sports for their readership. It goes both ways.
PR is part of the work involved in being an elite athlete. It’s what helps pay for those millions. Lots of athletes don’t care for press conferences, interviews, etc., but they shut up and do it anyway. “Anxiety” is just your typical Gen Z talk. Get over it, snowflake.
BTW, she may be ranked 2nd in the WTA, but she’s weak on clay, which is what the French Open is. All those celebrities and leftist on Twitter saying that it’s “The French Open’s loss” obviously don’t even watch the sport.
What war? The Russian Revolution? Yes, they want. No, it doesn’t mean we have to kowtow to them.
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