Sudden end of their French Open: Osaka’s press boycott escalates into retreat


Sudden end of their French Open
Osaka’s press boycott escalates into retreat

The announced and then implemented press boycott by Naomi Osaka causes a stir at the French Open. Now the tennis world number two is apparently drawing consequences – and is withdrawing from the Grand Slam tournament in Paris with immediate effect.

Naomi Osaka pressed the button shortly before 8 p.m. on Monday evening and put the whole tennis world in a state of excitement. The four-time Grand Slam winner has announced her withdrawal from the French Open. In doing so, she draws the conclusions from the dispute over her press boycott and will apparently no longer take part in her second-round match. This was announced by the 23-year-old Japanese, who openly addressed problems with depression, on Twitter.

“The best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I am withdrawing so that everyone can focus on tennis again in Paris,” wrote the world number two. This is a situation that she could never have imagined and that she never intended. Those responsible in Paris were concerned. “We are sorry, we are sad about Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal. We wish her the best and fastest recovery possible and hope to see Naomi again next year at our tournament,” said Gilles Moretton, President of the French Tennis Association. The organizers had previously threatened Osaka with the expulsion, should it fail to meet its media obligations.

The dispute over Osaka’s behavior had rocked into a power struggle in which Osaka now gave in. As announced, she stayed away from the mandatory press conference on the Sunday after her first round win. She had previously said that she wanted to draw attention to the mental health of professional athletes. The organizing French tennis association initially fined the athlete with a fine of 15,000 US dollars and threatened tougher sanctions if the winner of the US Open and Australian Open did not give in.

“See us when we see each other”

Since the US Open 2018 she has been suffering from depression again and again, Osaka said in her statement on Monday evening. In Paris, she felt vulnerable and fearful and finally wanted to protect herself with her much-discussed press boycott. “I accept that my timing was not ideal and that my message could have been clearer,” wrote Osaka, who won her opening match against Romanian Patricia Maria Tig 6: 4, 7: 6, but no longer made it into want to fight the third round. Osaka wrote that she wanted to get away from the tennis courts and then, after her return, take the tour to work on improvements for the players, the press and fans.

Prominent observers of the international tennis scene had previously requested that both parties sit down and discuss the problems. 18-time major winner Chris Evert told the New York Times, “I respect Naomi and what she did for social causes and for the sport, but everyone needs to communicate and find a solution.” US icon Billie Jean King pointed out the role the media played in the development of women’s tennis. But there are also limits and mutual respect is important.

Osaka is the most dazzling athlete in women’s tennis today. With an annual earnings of up to $ 55 million, she has risen to become the highest earning female athlete in the world and enjoys enormous popularity. She uses these again and again to set standards beyond the sport. Their protest against police violence at the US Open caused a worldwide sensation. She did not indicate a perspective for a return, but concluded with the words: “We will see each other when we see each other.”

.