Naomi Osaka announced Monday that she is withdrawing from the French Open after officials warned that she could face consequences for failing to participate in a post-match news conference following her first-round victory on Sunday.
Osaka returned to Roland Garros after sitting out the tournament last year and turned in a mistake-filled 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory over 63rd-ranked Patricia Maria Tig at Court Philippe Chatrier on Day 1. The No. 2-ranked tennis player had declared Wednesday on social media she would not speak to the press and kept that promise, prompting Grand Slam officials to fine her $15,000.
On Monday, Osaka said in a social media post that she declined to participate in postgame interviews due to anxiety and depression. She said she was feeling “vulnerable and anxious” in Paris, and “so I thought it was better to exercise self-care and skip the press conferences.”
“The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since the U.S. Open in 2018, and I have had a really hard time coping with that,” Osaka said. “Anyone that knows me knows I’m introverted, and anyone that has seen me at the tournaments will notice that I’m often wearing headphones as that helps dull my social anxiety.”
She noted that “the tennis press media has always been kind.” However, she said, “I am not a natural public speaker and get huge waves of anxiety before I speak to the world’s media.”
“I think now the best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris,” Osaka said. “I’m going to take some time away from the court now, but when the time is right I really want to work with the Tour to discuss ways we can make things better for the players, press and fans.”
Osaka’s sister, Mari, wrote in a post on Reddit, which she later deleted, that Naomi was “not OK mentally” after a first-round loss this month in Rome, according to The Associated Press.
“Her confidence was completely shattered and I think that everyone’s remarks and opinions have gotten to her head and she herself believed that she was bad on clay,” Mari wrote. “This isn’t true and she knows that in order to do well and have a shot at winning Roland Garros she will have to believe that she can. ... So her solution was to block everything out.”
After her win Sunday, Osaka did go ahead with the perfunctory exchange of pleasantries with an on-court French Open “interviewer” who lobs softball questions so spectators can hear something from the athletes.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.