Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka says she is willing to pay a fine at the upcoming French Open after confirming that she will not be speaking with the press throughout the tournament.
The world No.2 says she will not be participating in any press conferences at Roland Garros in order to protect her mental health and prevent any potential negatives that could impact her own mentality in the tournament. In a statement Osaka hit out at some journalists as she said some ‘have no regard for athletes’ mental health. She goes on to say that she will not be subjecting herself to ‘people who doubt her.’
“I’m writing this to say I’m not going to do any press during Roland Garros,” Osaka wrote on Twitter.
“I’ve often felt that people have no regard for athletes mental health and this rings 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.”
23-year-old Osaka is one of the most high-profile athletes in women’s sport. Research conducted by Sportico concluded that over a 12-month period the Japanese player has earned in the region of $55.2M which is more than any other female athlete in history. As one of the stars of the sport, her decision to not interact with the media during a Grand Slam is a big blow to the sport in one respect.
“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 whole situation is kicking a person while they’re down and I don’t understand the reasoning behind it,” she added in her statement.
Under current rules, players who refuse to take part in press conferences are subjected to fines of up to $20,000. Osaka hopes that any penalty she pays is redistributed to a mental health charity. However, the tournament has the final say as to where the money goes. She adds that her decision is ‘nothing personal’ to the French Open.
“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 at the centerpiece of their [corporation], then I just gotta laugh,” she said.
Osaka is yet to go beyond the third round of the French Open. Heading into this year’s tournament she suffered a second round loss at the Madrid Open to Karolina Muchova and then lost her opening match at the Italian Open to Jessica Pegula. She is yet to play a WTA final on the clay in her career.
