Fellow sportsmen rally around Osaka just after French Open withdrawal
Leading numbers in tennis and sport have rallied to support Naomi Osaka following the women's world number 2 withdrew from the French Open up in a row about post-match media duties, declaring she had been experiencing "depression" and "anxiety".
One of the primary names in sport, Osaka stunned the tennis universe when she pulled from the Grand Slam after appearing fined and threatened with expulsion for refusing to show up at a great obligatory news meeting on Sunday.
The four-times Grand Slam champion had signalled her intentions to skip her media obligations to safeguard her mental well-being on social media and returned to Twitter on Mon to announce her withdrawal.
"I think now the great thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw in order that everyone can get back to concentrating on the tennis heading on in Paris," she wrote.
While her original stance had earned little backing from her fellow professionals, most of whom declaring that dealing with the mass media was section of the job, her withdrawal triggered a wave of support from around the sporting universe.
"So pleased with you," multiple Grand Slam winner Venus Williams posted on Twitter. "Care for yourself and check out you again winning soon!"
Williams's sister Serena and younger American players Coco Gauff and Sloane Stephens also chimed in with communications of support while the emphasis shifted from Osaka's responsibilities to her wellbeing.
Billie Jean King echoed comments from fellow women's tennis trailblazer Martina Navratilova about the importance of mental health.
"It's extremely brave that Naomi Osaka offers revealed her real truth about her have a problem with depressive disorder," King wrote on cultural media.
"Right now, the main thing is that we give her the area and time she desires. We wish her well."
There were as well messages of support posted on social media from athletes in other sports, with golf's Michelle Wie, NFL players Russell Wilson and Tyler Lockett along with multiple Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt offering their backing.
"You shouldn't ever need to get a decision such as this -- but so damn impressive acquiring the high highway when the powers that end up being don't protect their personal. Major value," wrote NBA All Celebrity Steph Curry.
There was some people criticism of Roland Garros organisers for their handling of the matter.
French Tennis Federation President Gilles Moretton read a prepared statement on Mon supplying Osaka their support however the irony of him not acquiring questions, presented the context of the row, had not been lost on some.
"So the FFT managed the Ms Osaka mental health issues without empathy or perhaps sensitivity. Then your FFT President won't take concerns at a presser. An personal goal," wrote ex - Australian tennis official Richard Ings.
Japan's Osaka, who according to sports business web page Sportico earned $55.2 million over the past 12 months, is likely to be one of the primary attractions at the Tokyo Olympics in July and August.
The 23-year-old concluded her statement by saying she'd be taking time from tennis and organisers of this already troubled event will get desperately hoping she will be again on court long before the Games get underway.
