- The Washington Times - Monday, May 31, 2021

Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open on Monday after she was fined $15,000 for skipping her news conference and issued a stern warning from all four Grand Slam tournaments. 

Posting a statement on Twitter, Osaka apologized for her conduct and said it was best for her to step away for the time being.

“I never wanted to be a distraction and I accept that my timing was not ideal and my message could have been clearer,” Osaka wrote. “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.” 

Osaka, the No. 2 female tennis player in the world, had previously announced she would not participate in media interviews, citing her mental health — saying press conferences can create self-doubt. The announcement drew waves of criticism — including from Piers Morgan, who called Osaka an “arrogant spoiled brat” in an op-ed for the Daily Mail. 

Osaka’s fine was issued after she won her first-round match. Organizers from the four Grand Slam tournaments released a joint statement, threatening Osaka she could be disqualified from events if she continued to ignore her media obligations. 

Osaka said Monday she gets “huge waves of anxiety” having to speak to the press. She said she made her announcement prematurely, but did so because she wanted to highlight “rules (that) are quite outdated in parts. She apologized to the press and the organizers of the French Open.

“I’m gonna take some time away from the court now,” she wrote, “but when the time is right I really want to work with the Tour to discuss ways we can make things better for players, press and fans.” 

• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.

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