French Open organisers defend Osaka handling, say ‘can do better’ on mental health

Roland Garros, Paris, France – May perhaps 30, 2021 Image taken May 30, 2021 Japan’s Naomi Osaka reacts for the duration of her 1st spherical match against Romania’s Patricia Maria Tig REUTERS/Christian Hartmann/File Image

French Open organisers defended their dealing with of the Naomi Osaka predicament on Sunday but acknowledged that the governing bodies will need to do improved on mental health and fitness troubles following the Japanese player’s exit from the Grand Slam in excess of her media boycott.

Osaka declared in the construct-up to the French Open up that she would not go to the required publish-match press conferences for players, expressing the questioning by journalists impacts her mental nicely-currently being.

The 4-time Grand Slam winner caught to her stance and did not deal with the media after her opening gain, foremost to a $15,000 great and a strongly-worded letter from the board of the four Grand Slam tournaments warning her of possible expulsion from Roland Garros and long term majors.

Japan’s Osaka finished the stand-off with the French tennis federation (FFT) by withdrawing from the claycourt big soon after successful her very first round match, conveying she had been suffering from despair for virtually 3 yrs.

FFT director common Amelie Oudea-Castera claimed the organisers tried using to reach out to Osaka several times devoid of good results and the assertion from the four majors was to just remind her of the consequences of her decision.

“On the $15,000 wonderful, you observed we did not want to put that high-quality at the greatest. Most was 20,” Oudea-Castera advised reporters. “On reason we only wanted to be at 15 because we needed to mail a message that we would not go to a default correct away.

“I think we definitely cared for her. We really attempted to engage. We had been pragmatic in the way we dealt with the progressive tactic to sanctions. It was a really delicate and complicated problem, but we believe we actually handled that with respect, with treatment.

“And yes, of program, on psychological overall health, we can do far better. This is part of the roadmap we have with the other slams. We will just take the initiative on the matter with each other.”

The globe amount two’s withdrawal, even so, subjected the four Grand Slams to criticism from followers and pundits for their dealing with of the make a difference.

FFT president Gilles Moretton explained they “experienced to do it.”

“We will need to have fairness in between all the gamers … I think we did it the correct way,” he mentioned.

“Now we want only one particular detail: she will recuperate as quickly as achievable and maybe she will be in very great shape and completely ready to chat to you (media) at Wimbledon. We are going to be incredibly pleased for that.”

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Rely on Ideas.

Share