Naomi Osaka and Press Conferences
Naomi Osaka pulled out of the French Open after dealing with a backlash on her boycott of the mandatory post-match press conferences that players are required to attend. In a heartfelt tweet , Osaka talked about her battle with depression post the 2018 drama filled US Open Final. She shared how she gets ‘huge waves of anxiety’ before speaking to the media. Mental Health is serious issue and I hope Osaka gets the help she needs to deal with her anxiety. Her tweet on May 27th likened press conferences post a loss to ‘kicking a person while they’re down’. She also alleged that people have no regard for athlete’s mental health. A rather aggressive accusation. She is an athlete that has taken a stand on issues in the past. In the 2020 US Open she wore a mask that had the names of victims of racial injustice like George Floyd. Not afraid of dealing with issues that could be considered controversial she often speaks her mind. She was named Time’s 100 most influential people in the world