Making Mental Health A Priority
The French Open Tennis Tournament is one of the tennis world’s four Grand Slam tournaments.
Naomi Osaka, who is 23 and currently the No. 2-ranked female tennis player in the world, has won four Grand Slams in her young tennis career.
After she was fined $15,000 for refusing to speak to reporters after her first round victory in France at the end of May 2021, Naomi chose to withdraw from the tournament entirely.
She then told of having had “long bouts of depression” since she defeated Serena Williams in the 2018 U.S. Open and intense anxiety when trying to deal with reporters’ questions. She noted that even though the tennis reporters have always been kind to her, “I am not a natural public speaker and get huge waves of anxiety before I speak to the world’s media.”
Following her withdrawal from the French Open, support began pouring in. Helene Elliott, a sports columnist, noted that Naomi Osaka needs help, not condemnation. NBA star Steph Curry noted that Naomi took the high road. Basketball Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie added that Naomi’s mental health is just as important as her physical health.
Naomi’s competitors on the court also rallied around her, and Venus Williams said she was proud of Naomi and advised her to take care of herself until she’s back winning soon!
Serina Williams added, “A champion is defined not by their wins but by how they can recover when they fall.”
Liz Clark of The Washington Post has written that Naomi’s withdrawal from the French Open actually was a huge win that has put athletes’ mental health in the global spotlight – a warning shot to the sports industry that it cannot disregard the well-being of those who play the games.
And leaders from the four Grand Slam tournaments later promised to address players’ concerns about mental health.
An official from the International Tennis Federation says that Naomi has “shone a light on mental health issues” and that the Federation “will review what needs to be done.”
Seems like Naomi truly has achieved another major win – hopefully not only for herself and other athletes, but perhaps also for others facing their own mental health issues.
Please click here for Naomi Osaka responding to reporters during one of her recent press conferences.