Tennis star Naomi Osaka's decision to withdraw from the French Open and Wimbledon continues to send ripples beyond the world of international tennis tournaments.
Her essay, "It's OK to Not Be OK," in Time magazine on the stands Thursday (July 8) has moved mental health issues away from the whispers and uncomfortable acknowledgements and into the national spotlight.
The four-time Grand Slam winner and No. 2-ranked tennis player in the world explained in her essay why she declined to attend a press conference at the French Open and the backlash and support she received from her action.
The 23-year old Japanese American also revealed that after her mental health break she is ready to return to competitive tennis including representing Japan at the Tokyo Olympics.
“An Olympic Games itself is special," Osaka wrote, "but to have the opportunity to play in front of the Japanese fans is a dream come true. I hope I can make them proud,”
READ the entire Time essay here.
Osaka wrote that she is thankful for the support she received from former First Lady Michelle Obama, Olympian Michael Phelps, NBA star Steph Curry, Meghan Markle and more for making her mental health a priority over the financial reward of winning a tournament or the personal discomfort of having to face the press, especially in the format of a traditional press conference.
The tennis player, who competes for Japan where she was born, also clarified that her decision not to speak with press at the French Open was not an iindictment of the media in general, but the press conferences format.
“I have always enjoyed an amazing relationship with the media and have given numerous in-depth, one-on-one interviews,” she wrote for Time. “... However, in my opinion ... the press conference format itself is out of date and in great need of a refresh. I believe that we can make it better, more interesting and more enjoyable for each side. Less subject vs. object; more peer to peer.”
“Athletes are humans. Tennis is our privileged profession, and of course there are commitments off the court that coincide,” she wrote. “But I can’t imagine another profession where a consistent attendance record (I have missed one press conference in my seven years on tour) would be so harshly scrutinized.”
For refusing to speak to the press at the French Open, she was penalized $15,000 and threatened with further penalties if she doesn't take part in the after-match press conferences. Rather than continue to be penalized and criticized, she felt it better to simply withdraw.
Athletes are not questioned when they stop competing when they have a physical injury like a sprained nuscle or broken limb. A mental health break should be viewed in the same manner. Osaka suggested that athletes be given a number of personal days from their public lives. In her seven-year career, she has missed only one press conference, she said.
"I do not wish that on anyone and hope that we can enact measures to protect athletes, especially the fragile ones,” she continued in her essay.
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