When it was initially announced that world number 2 Naomi Osaka wouldn't be doing press at this year's French Open, a lot was made of her decision.
Column inches were filled around the obligation of top sports stars to perform for the media during tournaments, organisers of The French Open fined her for failing to show up for a news conference, and she was threatened with being removed from the competition.
Now, the four time Grand Slam winner has herself withdrawn from the Open, and revealed that she has been suffering with depression and anxiety and will be taking a break from the game.
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 31, 2021
Phil Egan from Off The Ball joined Dermot and Dave to explain how we got to this point, and sports psychologist Máire Treasa Ní Cheallaigh detailed the importance of looking after the minds of our sports stars as much as we do their bodies.
It’s mad that you can pull out of a press conference with a broken arm, or a pulled hamstring without a doctor’s report. But if your mind is injured, you’re punished and forced to ‘prove’ it. We’ve a long way to go.
— MáireT (@MaireTNC) May 31, 2021
You can catch the chat by clicking play in the post.
