Serena Williams offers support to Naomi Osaka after French Open withdrawal
Serena Williams, an idol for Naomi Osaka in her tennis career, gave her support to the world No. 2 star after she decided to withdraw from the 2021 French Open.
Not long after Osaka announced that she would exit the French Open, Williams, coming off a first-round win at Rolland-Garros, said that she feels for Osaka and that she knows what it is like to face the media pressure, according to New York Times reporter Ben Rothenberg.
“The only thing I feel is that I feel for Naomi,” Williams said. “I feel like I wish I could give her a hug because I know what it’s like. Like I said, I’ve been in those positions.”
Osaka announced on Twitter on Monday that she would step out of this year’s French Open and that she would “take some time away from the court.”
In her post, she revealed that she has suffered “long bouts of depression” since the 2018 U.S. Open and that talking to the press after matches can bring “huge waves of anxiety.”
Williams said that everyone handles situations differently and that “you just have to let her handle it the way [Osaka] wants to, in the best way she thinks she can.”
Williams later added when asked whether the WTA and Grand Slam Tournaments are doing enough to help players’ mental health concerns that “you really have to step forward and make an effort, just as in anything.”
“You have to be able to make an effort and say, I need help with A, B, C and D, and talk to someone. I think that’s so important to have a sounding board, whether it’s someone at the WTA or whether it’s someone in your life. Maybe it’s someone that you just talk to on a weekly basis,” Williams said. “I’ve been in that position too. I’ve definitely had opportunities to talk to people, kind of get things off my chest that I can’t necessarily talk to anyone in my family or anyone that I know.
“For me it’s important to have awareness and make that step.”
Osaka began the tournament by saying that she would not speak to the press as she felt people often had no regard for the mental health of athletes. In response, the heads of the four Grand Slam tournaments fined her $15,000 and noted that she could face a default in the French Open and face possible Grand Slam violations.
Williams was the latest athlete to offer up support to Osaka. Usain Bolt, Venus Williams and Coco Gauff all left messages of support to the tennis star amid her decision to exit the French Open.
According to a report from Yahoo! Sports, French Tennis Federation president Gilles Moretton said during a news conference that Osaka’s withdrawal from Roland-Garros was “unfortunate” and said the French Open wishes her “the best and quickest possible recovery, and we look forward to having Naomi in our tournament next year.”
“As all the Grand Slams, the WTA, the ATP, and the ITF, we remain very committed to all athletes’ well-being, and to continually improving every aspect of players’ experience in our tournament — including with the media, like we have always strived to do,” Moretton said.
He did not stay for questions from reporters.
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