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 in 2019 and 2020, is one of the highest paid athletes in the world and deservedly so. 

The question is whether Osaka is taking this stand to protect the mental health of all tennis players from post-match press conferences or is she protecting her own mental health? 

If it is the latter, I wish her a speedy recovery. Mental health issues can be as challenging, if not more, than physical ones and I hope she gets the help she needs and bounces back soon. I have always been a fan. 

In the case of the former, I’m afraid she has a long road ahead 

Being a ‘professional’ at anything requires you have to deal with things you aren’t always comfortable with. Whether you are the CEO of company, an employee, an actor or a professional athlete, the same rules apply. It is what being a professional is about. You can't be a professional and say I am willing to do this, but not that because of my mental health. At the risk of sounding harsh, then may be that job is not for you. It is not like the job description said otherwise. 

In this case Osaka objecting to post match press conferences is bordering on ridiculous. Of course at times these are not pleasant, especially after an emotional loss. But they are part of sport. To hope for otherwise is unrealistic. 

The post matches press conferences are not something that the French Open invented last week. They have been around for years. Every athlete knows what they are signing up for when they turn pro. In some sports young athletes are trained on how to handle the media. The ATP and WTA could set up a training program for up-coming players if they haven’t already. 

It is easy to label the media as vampires that are in search of a sound bite that draws blood. The reality is they play an integral part in the game. Rafael Nadal had this to say-

‘I understand her, but on the other hand, for me, I mean, without the press, without the people who normally travel, who are writing the news and achievements that we are having around the world, we probably will not be the athletes that we are today. We wouldn't have the recognition that we have around the world, and we will not be that popular, no?’

Other players including Novak Djokovic, Ashleigh Barty and Daniil Medvedev all considered the press as part of the job. Which is exactly what it is, part of the job of being a professional athlete. If a player has mental health issues that prevent them from doing it I do empathise with them, but that doesn't make that part of the job wrong. 

I hope Osaka bounces back and is healthier than ever before. However, if she refuses to play tournaments because of post match press conferences I am afraid we are going to miss her on the tour, which would be a loss to the game.  

Photo Credit - https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/32455/12320935/naomi-osaka-fined-15000-for-not-doing-french-open-post-match-press-conference-and-threatened-with-disqualification