Top tennis gamers and different star athletes from the sports activities world have rallied behind Naomi Osaka after the ladies’s world quantity two withdrew from the French Open 2021 in a row about post-match media duties, saying she had been affected by “depression” and “anxiety”.The highest paid feminine athlete on the planet, Osaka shocked the tennis world when she pulled out of the Grand Slam, a day after being fined USD 15,000 and threatened with expulsion for refusing to work together with the media in the course of the claycourt Grand Slam.The four-times Grand Slam champion had signalled her intentions to skip her media duties to guard her psychological well-being on social media and returned to Twitter on Monday to announce her withdrawal.”I think now the best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can go back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris,” she wrote.pic.twitter.com/LN2ANnoAYD— NaomiOsaka (@naomiosaka) May 31, 2021
While her authentic stance had earned little backing from her fellow professionals, most of whom saying that coping with the media was a part of the job, her withdrawal triggered a wave of help from across the sporting world.Serena Williams, 17-year-old Coco Gauff and Sloane Stephens chimed in with messages of help as the main focus shifted from Osaka’s duties to her wellbeing.“I feel for Naomi,” Serena Williams mentioned. “Not everyone is the same. I’m thick. Other people are thin. Everyone is different and everyone handles things differently.“You just have to let her handle it the way she wants to and the best way she thinks she can. That’s the only thing I can say: I think she is doing the best she can.”keep sturdy I like your vulnerability— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) May 31, 2021
Billie Jean King echoed feedback from fellow tennis nice and 18-time Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova concerning the significance of psychological well being.It’s extremely courageous that Naomi Osaka has revealed her reality about her battle with melancholy.Right now, the necessary factor is that we give her the house and time she wants.We want her properly.— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) May 31, 2021
“It’s incredibly brave that Naomi Osaka has revealed her truth about her struggle with depression,” King wrote on social media.”Right now, the important thing is that we give her the space and time she needs. We wish her well.”There have been additionally messages of help posted on social media from athletes in different sports activities, with golf’s Michelle Wie, NFL gamers Russell Wilson and Tyler Lockett additionally providing their backing.”You shouldn’t ever have to make a decision like this — but so damn impressive taking the high road when the powers that be don’t protect their own. Major respect,” wrote NBA All Star Steph Curry.There was some criticism of Roland Garros organisers for his or her dealing with of the matter.French Tennis Federation President Gilles Moretton learn a ready assertion on Monday providing Osaka their help however mockingly didn’t take any query. “We are sorry and sad for Naomi Osaka. The outcome of Naomi withdrawing from Roland Garros is unfortunate,” he mentioned.”So the FFT handled the Ms Osaka mental health concerns without empathy or sensitivity. Then the FFT President refuses to take questions at a presser. An own goal,” wrote former Australian tennis official Richard Ings.Japan’s Osaka, who in line with sports activities enterprise web site Sportico earned $55.2 million over the previous 12 months, is anticipated to be one of many greatest sights on the upcoming Tokyo Olympics in July and August.The 23-year-old concluded her assertion by saying she can be taking a while away from tennis.