It is profoundly disturbing that Naomi Osaka felt compelled to withdraw from the French Open, one of tennis’ four Grand Slam tournaments. It is also illegal to make her feel like she needed to withdraw.
The 23-year-old Osaka is the No. 2 female tennis player in the world at the moment. She won the previous two Grand Slams, and she has won a total of four in her young tennis career.
Osaka, who moved to the United States at age 3 from Japan, struggles with depression and anxiety. In 2018, she issued a tearful apology during the trophy ceremony after winning (not losing) her first Grand Slam tournament, the U.S. Open, over the American crowd’s favorite, Serena Williams. Williams, who is probably the greatest female tennis player who ever lived, quickly let everyone know – including Osaka, especially Osaka – that the then-20-year-old had nothing for which to apologize.
Williams’ whispers and gestures to try to console Osaka, and her exhortation to the crowd to stop booing and give credit where it’s due, demonstrated that Williams’ prodigious athletic gifts are matched by a compassionate heart. I still remember to this day how moved I was by what Williams did. Watch it for yourself here.
Threats instead of accommodation
The governing authorities of tennis’ four Grand Slam tournaments should have learned from Osaka and Williams. Before her first match at the French Open, Osaka had informed tournament officials that news conferences adversely impacted her…
