Women’s tennis nice Martina Navratilova on Monday (May 31) mentioned she was saddened by Naomi Osaka’s resolution to withdraw from the French Open following the controversy over her resolution to boycott media obligations. Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka introduced her resolution on Monday, a day after being fined $15,000 for not attending a post-match media convention and threatened with expulsion after her first-round win.
The Japanese participant, who cited the unfavorable influence on her psychological wellbeing attributable to going through journalists at post-match press conferences as the rationale for her boycott, wrote on Twitter that she had suffered from melancholy since 2018.
“I am so sad about Naomi Osaka. I truly hope she will be okay,” 18-time Grand Slam singles champion Navratilova mentioned after Osaka’s resolution to withdraw. “As athletes we are taught to take care of our body, and perhaps the mental and emotional aspect gets short shrift,” Navratilova mentioned.
“This is about more than doing or not doing a press conference. Good luck Naomi – we are all pulling for you!”
Osaka mentioned she determined to withdraw from the Grand Slam match as a result of she didn’t need to change into a ‘distraction’. “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,” the world No. 2 mentioned on Twitter.
Osaka mentioned she regretted the timing of her media boycott. Navratilova mentioned it had made the state of affairs worse. “Kudos to Naomi Osaka for caring so much about the other players,” Navratilova mentioned. “While she tried to make a situation better for herself and others, she inadvertently made it worse. Hope this solution, pulling out, as brutal as it is, will allow her to start healing and take care of herself,” Navratilova added.
Former American participant Mardy Fish, who struggled with anxiousness points throughout his profession, mentioned Osaka needs to be absolutely supported. “Mental Health is nothing to criticize. Nothing to joke about. Please take your mental health seriously,” he mentioned.
Mental Health is nothing to criticize. Nothing to joke about. Pls take your psychological well being significantly. Without my help system, I actually imagine I’d not be right here right this moment. Here for you @naomiosaka https://t.co/8UdJexQPVj
— Mardy Fish (@MardyFish) May 31, 2021
“Without my support system, I truly believe I would not be here today. Here for you @naomiosaka.”
(with Reuters inputs)
