Mental Health and Athletics: Naomi Osaka
Recently, the No. 2 ranked female tennis player in the world, Naomi Osaka, made a decision that took the world by storm. As of May 31st, Osaka has withdrawn from the French Open due to personal mental health issues regarding the press, something almost unheard of in the world of athletics. Upon hearing this occurrence, I felt obligated to research and cover this story as someone who strives to increase mental health awareness. After all, something like this has never been done before!
Background
On May 26th, Osaka stated on Twitter that she would not participate in any press conferences during the tournament due to the social anxiety she experienced during media interviews. She stated, “If the organizations think that they can just keep saying “do press or you’re gonna be fined,” and continue to ignore the mental health of the athletes that are the centerpiece of their cooperation, then I just gotta laugh.” This statement quickly resulted in a $15,000 fine and threats of suspension from future matches from the French Tennis Federation, causing Osaka to withdraw from the tournament entirely. In her Twitter announcement, she states, “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.”
My Thoughts
To begin, I am very proud of Osaka for putting her mental health first and stressing its importance to the world, even while knowing that there would be backlash. After hearing her story, I also came to the same conclusion and felt that it would be best for her to withdraw from the French Open in order to receive the help she needed to feel less vulnerable and anxious and practice more self-care. However, there is an aspect of this story that irks me, this being the backlash that the French Tennis Federation is receiving. In my opinion, both parties handled the situation to the best of their abilities; the French Tennis Federation was making sure that their athletes followed through with their responsibilities and even engaged with Osaka on multiple occasions. Since her withdrawal, the French Open organizers have even taken care of her as she rests with her family and have claimed that they will work together with the other Grand Slam tournament providers on dealing with players’ mental health issues in the name of Osaka.
Others Thoughts
After Osaka’s withdrawal, her fans and many other celebrities supported her and even stressed the importance of good mental health in athletics themselves. The most influential, Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas, empathized with Osaka and even participated in multiple interviews after her withdrawal to emphasize the importance of mental health in athletics by sharing her own story in response to Osaka. Other examples of supportive stars include Stephan Curry, Jada Pinkett Smith, Ja Morant, Michael Phelps, and Serena Williams, who feels for Osaka. Williams states, “I feel like I wish I could give her a hug because I know what it’s like.”
In the end, I am exceedingly proud of Naomi Osaka and her supporters for promoting good mental health. I am overjoyed to see that today’s athletes prioritize their health and share their stories with the public, who look up to and see them as role models. This makes me all the more proud to see them embracing mental health!
Sources
Naomi Osaka Withdraws from French Open, Citing Anxiety Over Media Interviews after $15k Fine:
Naomi Osaka Withdraws from French Open, Takes Break from Tennis:
https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2021/05/31/naomi-osaka-french-open-withdraws-roland-garros/
French Open Organizers: 'We Really Tried to Engage' with Naomi Osaka Ahead of Withdraw:
French Open Officials Defend Handling of Naomi Osaka Threat:
https://nypost.com/2021/06/13/french-open-officials-defend-handling-of-naomi-osaka-threat/
Michael Phelps Reacts to Osaka's Withdrawal Decision: