Naomi Osaka's Roland Garros withdrawal and the aftermath that followed

Naomi Osaka shockingly withdrew from Roland Garros, but the aftermath was even worse.

When Naomi Osaka spoke to the public via her Instagram account to let everyone know that because of her anxiety issues ‘public speaking’ does not come naturally to her, the first reactions of the public were to point out how she was the best-paid athlete in the world with over 55 millions of dollars earned in a calendar year. She said she suffered from high anxiety when talking to the media and nobody cared about it.

Speaking honestly about one’s issues is one of the most difficult things a person can do, that is why most avoid doing it. Telling everybody about your most personal issues is even more difficult yet Osaka decided to do it. Why? She felt backed into a corner and the response to her ‘coming out’ has been appalling.

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What ensued was a mess for everyone involved resulting in Osaka withdrawing from the Roland Garros because organizers simply rejected the notion that a woman could feel vulnerable in such an environment. Instead of collectively backing a person who has been dealing with very serious issues, everyone reacted poorly.

Not only a person but one of the biggest stars the tennis game has seen in the past decade. The media and the organizers are both at fault. French Open director Guy Forget, whose name and surname are unusually symbolic for this matter, fired a patronizing comment on Osaka’s decision saying ‘As the tournament progresses, we will see how she behaves’ Read it a few times.

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On the other hand, the media could not wait for someone to be crucified. They could not wait to side with the organizers and not the persons that make any of this possible mostly because they are frustrated with their own precarious position. As if her forced appearance in front of several journalists who mostly ask bland questions is so important for the future of their companies.

Like they were damaged so much by one athlete refusing to answer their questions. The French Open organizers did not go to war with the best female tennis player in the world because of something so banal like a post-match press conference, but because the industry does not tolerate rebels.

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They are used to the machinery of press conferences where athletes need to endure numerous rules which can affect their mental health. Issues that can affect their performance which is what essentially keeps the whole thing going.

While reporters are used to asking bland, missed and empty questions, Osaka on her Instagram opened several far more important questions - those about the dynamic between different parties in modern sports, the value of athletes and their control over their own worth. Unfortunately, those questions seem like, were spoken in front of no audience. The other side, frustrated and insulted already left the press conference.