Naomi Osaka’s decision to skip press conferences at the French Open and later withdraw from the tournament altogether raised awareness about athletes’ mental health and drew the ire of tennis organizers.
French Tennis Federation president Gilles Moretton defended fining Osaka and threatening to default her if she continued to skip out on press events. Officials said they did try to engage with Osaka before she decided to remove herself from the year’s second major event.
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“We did it the right way,” Moretton said Sunday.
Osaka was threatened with disqualification and suspension if she avoided the media. She said she was experiencing anxiety and was battling depression at times.
“What we did all together with the slams — we had to do it,” Moretton said. “We did the right choice, even if you feel like we shouldn’t say anything … regarding Naomi.”
Amelie Oudea-Castera, the French Tennis Federation’s director general, added that…