Serena Williams Speaks On Naomi Osaka Withdrawing From The French Open

After announcing that she would not be fulfilling her media obligations prior to the French Open, Naomi Osaka was fined $15,000 and received heavy backlash from fans and members of the media. Shortly after she was blasted by many, Osaka decided that it was best if she just withdrew from the tournament altogether.

Naomi Osaka Fined $15,000 And Threatened With Expulsion For Avoiding Media At French Openhttps://t.co/StYFEGKMaC

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“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 in a statement where she cited her anxiety and mental health as the reason why she felt uncomfortable speaking with the media this week.

“I never wanted to be a distraction and I accept that my timing was not ideal and my message could have been clearer,” Osaka continued via The Spun. “The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018 and I have had a really hard time coping with that.”

While fans had a mixed reaction to Osaka’s decision, Serena Williams came out in full support of the 23-year-old star.

“I feel for Naomi, and I wish I could give her a hug because I’ve been in those situations,” she said, via The New York Times. “You have to let her handle it the way she wants to in the best way she can.”

“I feel for Naomi, and I wish I could give her a hug because I’ve been in those situations,” said Serena Williams. “You have to let her handle it the way she wants to in the best way she can.” https://t.co/hXrfD6hOmm

— The New York Times (@nytimes) June 1, 2021

Whether you like Osaka or not, you have to admit that she is one of the most exciting players that we have in tennis today. Without her present, the French Open simply won’t be the same.

Let’s all hope that Naomi Osaka will work through whatever it is she’s going through. And that we see her back on the court very soon.

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