On behalf of the Grand Slams, we wish to offer Naomi Osaka our support and assistance in any way possible as she takes time away from the court. She is an exceptional athlete and we look forward to her return as soon as she deems appropriate
Joint statement released by Grand Slams following Osaka Roland Garros withdrawal
WTATuesday, 01 June 2021 at 18:15
In a further statement released by the respective Grand Slams (Wimbledon, Roland Garros, Australian Open and US Open), they have offered Naomi Osaka support and assistance after she has decided to take some time away from the court following her French Open withdrawal.
Osaka withdrew from the tournament yesterday after initially deciding against taking part in press during the tournament and was fined and threatened with further sanctions as a result.
In her statement, she discussed taking time away and after a brief statement by the FFT President, Gilles Moretton, all four have now come together to say the following:
"On behalf of the Grand Slams, we wish to offer Naomi Osaka our support and assistance in any way possible as she takes time away from the court. She is an exceptional athlete and we look forward to her return as soon as she deems appropriate.
"Mental health is a very challenging issue, which deserves our utmost attention. It is both complex and personal, as what affects one individual does not necessarily affect another. We commend Naomi for sharing in her own words the pressures and anxieties she is feeling and we empathise with the unique pressures tennis players may face.
"While players’ wellbeing has always been a priority to the Grand Slams, our intention, together with the WTA, the ATP and the ITF, is to advance mental health and wellbeing through further actions.
"Together as a community we will continue to improve the player experience at our tournaments, including as it relates to media. Change should come through the lens of maintaining a fair playing field, regardless of ranking or status. Sport requires rules and regulations to ensure that no player has an unfair advantage over another.
"We intend to work alongside the players, the tours, the media and the broader tennis community to create meaningful improvements. As Grand Slams, we aim to create the stage for the players to achieve the highest accolades in our sport."
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