Posted On June 2, 2021
World No. 2 Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the French Open after refusing media obligations in an effort to protect her mental health. Osaka was fined $15,000 for skipping a post-match news conference after her first-round victory on Sunday, and threatened by all four Grand Slam tournaments with stiffer penalties if she continued to avoid meeting with the media. In a statement, Osaka wrote, "I never wanted to be a distraction and I accept that my timing was not ideal and my message could have been clearer."
SI's Madelyn Burke says while Osaka's decision is well-intentioned, she may be setting the wrong example.
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