Naomi Osaka
Bouts of depression: Naomi Osaka withdraws from French Open
Paris: Japanese Tennis star Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the French Open after a controversy following her decision to refuse to speak to the media at the tournament.
Osaka is currently world number two.
Osaka announced her decision on Twitter by posting a statement where she said she had "suffered long bouts of depression" since winning her first Grand Slam title in 2018.
"This isn't a situation I ever imagined or intended when I posted a few days ago. I think now the best thing for the tournament, the other players and my wellbeing is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris," Osaka said in a statement.
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 31, 2021
"I never wanted to be a distraction and I accept my timing was not ideal and my message could have been clearer. More importantly, I would never trivialise mental health or use the term lightly," she said.
"The truth is I have suffered long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018 and I have had a really hard time coping with that," the Tennis star said.
She further said: "Anyone that knows me knows I am introverted and anyone that has seen me at tournaments will notice that I'm often wearing headphones as that helps dull my social anxiety."
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