Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka announced on social media that she will not speak during any press conferences at this year’s French Open due to mental health impact. According to Osaka, news conferences put an unfair burden on players.
“I am writing this to say that I am not going to do any press during Roland Garros,” the 23-year-old announced on Twitter.
“I have 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.
“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 am not going to subject myself to people who doubt me.”
Under tennis tournament rules, all players are required to hold press conferences after each match.
They also perform media duties before a tournament.
Naomi Osaka regularly packs out media rooms due to her standing in the sport and her charismatic appeal to reporters.
The French Open will officially start on May 30, and will be played until June 13, 2021. Osaka will be aiming to make it past the third round for the first time.
