Tennis champ Osaka claims press conferences can affect mental health

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Four-time Grand Slam title winner and the current women’s world No. 2 player Naomi Osaka confirmed that she won’t be participating in any press conferences when the 2021 French Open begins.

In an interview, Osaka expressed her sentiments towards press conferences. The Japanese tennis player said that some questions can bring doubt in their minds while some who already lost the game but are required to answer the press are put in a difficult position.

“I’ve often felt that people have no regard for athletes’ mental health and this rings true whenever I see a press conference or partake in one. Expecting players to answer questions after losses amounted to “kicking a person while they’re down”, Osaka said.

Osaka cleared that she has no bad relationship with the tennis media or any specific journalist and it’s nothing personal.

Furthermore, Osaka added that she is maintaining a friendly relationship with the sports journalism community.

“We’re often sat there and asked questions that we’ve been asked multiple times before or asked questions that bring doubt into our minds and I’m just not going to subject myself to people that doubt me,” Osaka shared.

The Japanese tennis star will no longer answer questions when Roland Garros kicks off but did not confirm as to how long will she avoid the press.