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World number 2 tennis player Naomi Osaka won her first-round match over Patricia Maria Tig at the French Open on Sunday, but she had bad news waiting for her after she failed to appear for the mandatory post-match news conference. The tournament organizers fined her $15,000.
Osaka had announced on her social media pages on Wednesday that she would skip the media obligations at the French Open as she “often felt that people have no regard for athletes mental health.”
The fine came with a warning, too. Stronger penalties could be in the offing if she skipped any more press conferences. She could even face default from the tournament, she was told. The French Open organizers were not alone in issuing the threat. It was signed by all the four Grand Slam tournaments: The United States Tennis Association, Tennis Australia and All England Club, which organizes Wimbledon.
The emphasis on “mental health” by Osaka has divided many. While the Grand Slam organizers have said that they are open to discussions with players on the issue, sports psychologists argue organizers need to appreciate the situation of players when they have to attend press conferences even when they are not in a mood to do so, especially after a loss. [https://www.cbc.ca/sports/tennis/players-need-safer-mental-environment-sports-psychologist-says-1.6042331]
Venus Williams commented on Osaka’s post, saying, “Girl, do you. Your life is yours to live!” Venus and her sister Serena have been fined in the past for skipping press conferences.
The Grand Slam organizers have said that letting Osaka have her way could set a precedent, and not meeting media obligations without consequences would also be unfair for other players who honor their commitments.
But the issue of mental health in tennis is unlikely to go away as Osaka is one of the most influential sportswomen in the world and she has forayed into activism in the past. Last year, she entered the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York wearing facemasks bearing the name of George Floyd and other victims of police brutality in the United States. [https://www.insider.com/naomi-osaka-tennis-us-open-face-masks-pictures-2020-9]
Read more:
The snub and the fine:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/may/30/french-open-womens-singles-naomi-osaka-patricia-tig
Why Osaka doesn’t want to attend press conferences:
https://nypost.com/2021/05/27/why-naomi-osaka-refuses-to-do-press-at-the-french-open/