Tennis No. 2 seed, Naomi Osaka was fined $15000 in the wake of
her infringement of mandatory media interviews at Roland-Garros.

Naomi Osaka announced last week via social media, that she would not participate in the mandatory media interviews at Roland-Garros 2021.

Today, the top seed has announced she will withdraw from Roland Garros, citing mental health reasons

Hey everyone, this isn't a situation I ever imagined or intended when I posted a few days ago. 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.

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. Anyone that knows me knows I'm introverted, and anyone that has seen me at the tournaments will notice that I'm often wearing headphones as that helps dull my social anxiety.

Though the tennis press has always been kind to me (and I wanna apologize especially to all the cool journalists who I may have hurt), I am not a natural public speaker and get huge waves of anxiety before I speak to the world's media. I get really nervous and find it stressful to always try to engage and give you the best answers I can.

So here in Paris I was already feeling vulnerable and anxious so I thought it was better to exercise self-care and skip the press
conferences.

I announced it preemptively because l do feel like the rules are quite outdated in parts and I wanted to highlight that.

I wrote privately to the tournament apologizing and saying that I would be more than happy to speak with them after the
tournament as the Slams are intense.

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.

Anyways hope you are all doing well and staying safe, love you guys I'll see you when I see you

Naomi Osaka

Osaka has won four Singles Grand Slams and is the reigning Champion at the US Open and the Australian Open

Wao

I’m going to miss her.
I have no option than looking out for Coco Gauff then.

Why do they have to mandate it for every player to appear before the press to speak?

This is a player I prefer seeing and enjoying her dexterity with the racket rather than her verbal response.

Revolutions should begin from the most relevant.

Okay

Good news for Serena

If you cannot stand the heat, berra leave the kitchen

Another Grandslam for Barty

pretty lady I’ll definitely miss her

Okay

..

Thought it was Noami the wrestler

Tennis is the most sexiest sport enjoy seeing the likes of maria sharapokvia on mini and this osaka as them they play their skirt lift up and I see their pants . my fellow vasline crew I hope I made sense

Hmm

Osaka and her activism. Hope she won't damage her career? She's has grand slams to win biko.

BTW Serena will be hoping to take this now.

Yeah she needs a minute.
Can the game go on?
Lets' play.

.

The smallie sef too get wahala.

She's got her reasons!

So sad

If that is what she wants to do, let her do it. Make we no go hear say person commit suicide because she was struggling with mental health. Sister, do you. Just know that it might affect your career though. But if you have no problem with the effect it will have on your career. Do you and be happy Naomi Osaka

Strong hearted woman and very bold to air her voice. I like her personality. Talk and do kinda person. More win Osaka

One of the many travails of a deep rooted introvert.

Wahala.... Can't they verify her claims and let her be?

Press can drive u crazy sometimes. Introverts do not respond well to public speaking. They try to avoid it like a plague.. That is why they enjoy their privacy. She may be an introvert.

Reading through her writeup really tells alot about her in terms of been an introvert really , not everyone can face the media/public in term of speech . At times we need to understand each other personality,because she didn't speak to the press she was fined,that's pure nonsense ,is it by force to speak? This white people self get them own yeye problem saa ahnahn

FBIBOT:
Wahala.... Can't they verify her claims and let her be?

I tire

na similar mata like dis make real Madrid and other clubs come up with super league as dm call am. like with UEFA, always after d money dm nor care how the teams or clubs are fairing regarding this challenging times.

Neimar:
Lmao
She was never going to win the French Open jare

Why do you say so?