After announcing she wouldn’t be participating in the French Open, Naomi Osaka was met with support from Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Steph Curry, Coco Gauff and more. Before releasing a statement, she was fined $15,000 for stating she wouldn’t be doing press at the sports event.
Naomi Osaka has had the Internet talking for nearly a week after announcing she wouldn’t be doing press at the French Open.

Following this decision, the tennis star was hit with a $15,000 fine in addition to a threat of expulsion. In response to the fine and the potential expulsion, Osaka chose to withdraw from the tournament.

Osaka also released a statement expanding on her decision to not engage with the press: her mental health. “I think now the best thing for the tournament, and the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris,” she wrote. Naomi added, “I would never trivialize mental health or use the term lightly. The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018 and I have had a really hard time coping with that.”

You shouldnt ever have to make a decison like this-but so damn impressive taking the high road when the powers that be dont protect their own. major respect @naomiosaka https://t.co/OcRd95MqCn

— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) May 31, 2021

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