Naomi Osaka at French Open news conference: ‘I think I’m OK’
PARIS (AP) — Naomi Osaka cracked jokes at Roland Garros on Friday — and, sure, laughed at these jokes. She smiled after some reporters’ questions. She paused to ponder, as is her wont, earlier than providing solutions.
All of which appeared to verify this evaluation that she supplied throughout an 18-minute pre-tournament French Open information convention, one year after she declared she would avoid talking to the press after which withdrew earlier than the second spherical: “For essentially the most half, I believe I’m OK.”
Osaka used these phrases on the conclusion of a prolonged and considerate reply about what it was like to return again to a spot the place her final journey was a lot extra about her well-being and off-court mindset than her tennis. Which is saying one thing when the topic is a participant who already owns 4 Grand Slam titles and has been ranked No. 1.
“I’m not going to lie. After I first got here right here, I used to be very frightened. I used to be simply sort of frightened if there can be those who — in fact, I additionally didn’t like how I dealt with the state of affairs — however I used to be frightened that there have been those who I offended a way, and I’d simply sort of stumble upon them,” Osaka stated Friday, her eyes darting across the room, her phrases separated by the occasional pause. “However I believe everybody has been actually optimistic, for essentially the most half. I’m probably not so certain. I used to be additionally very frightened about this press convention, as a result of I knew I’d get numerous questions on this.”
Persevering with, Osaka stated: “For me, the place I’m proper now, I wouldn’t need to say — it hasn’t left my thoughts. In fact, I’m nonetheless eager about it.”
Earlier than the 2021 French Open, Osaka vowed to not “do any press throughout Roland Garros,” framing the matter as a psychological well being concern, saying it will probably create self-doubt to must reply questions after a loss. She caught to that stance, skipping the match’s media day — which is what Friday’s setting was — and her obligatory information convention after successful within the first spherical, which drew a $15,000 advantageous. Osaka additionally was threatened by all 4 Grand Slam tournaments of potential further punishment, together with disqualification or suspension.
She responded by pulling out of Roland Garros, explaining that she experiences “enormous waves of hysteria” earlier than talking to the media and revealing she has “suffered lengthy bouts of melancholy,” serving to make such feedback extra frequent amongst athletes, to not point out society at giant.
Osaka additionally sat out Wimbledon and, later within the season, took one other psychological well being break after dropping on the U.S. Open.
She returned to the Grand Slam stage in January on the Australian Open, the place was the reigning champion.
Osaka misplaced within the third spherical there to Amanda Anisimova, a 20-year-old American who just so happens to be Osaka’s first opponent in Paris.
Her rating has fallen to No. 38, largely due to a scarcity of motion, and her preparation for the French Open was hardly splendid: Osaka withdrew from the clay-court match in Rome this month due to a lingering damage to her left Achilles heel.
“For me, there is no such thing as a approach I’m not going to play this match, so in fact, you sort of must handle issues. However on the identical time, I’m going to pop just a few painkillers. … I’ve really performed numerous Grand Slams with one thing,” she stated. “So I believe perhaps there’s a chance I might play actually good when I’ve an damage, as a result of I really feel like I don’t have something to lose.”
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