Naomi Osaka #
Introduction #
Naomi Osaka is a Japanese professional tennis player who reached world No. 1 and won four Grand Slam singles titles. At the 2021 French Open she was fined $15,000 for skipping a mandatory press conference and threatened with escalating fines and possible expulsion; on May 31, 2021, she withdrew, citing her mental health. CNN and The Guardian reported the withdrawal and her statement, and the response from athletes, sponsors, and the wider tennis world divided sharply.
Background Information #
Naomi Osaka was born on October 16, 1997, in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan, to a Haitian-American father and a Japanese mother. The family moved to the United States when she was three, and she turned professional in 2012. She came to prominence at 16, upsetting world No. 19 Samantha Stosur in her WTA Tour debut at the 2014 Stanford Classic, and reached her first WTA final at the 2016 Pan Pacific Open.
Her breakthrough came in 2018, when she won her first Tour title at the Indian Wells Open and defeated Serena Williams in the US Open final to become the first Japanese player to win a major singles title. A win at the 2019 Australian Open lifted her to world No. 1 — the first Asian player in singles to hold the top ranking. Her four Grand Slam singles titles came at the 2018 and 2020 US Opens and the 2019 and 2021 Australian Opens. Osaka also became known for her activism, wearing masks at the 2020 US Open naming African Americans killed in recent years, and was named a 2020 Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year.
The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation #
Seeded second at the 2021 French Open, Osaka announced before the tournament that she would not take part in her mandatory media assignments. After beating Patricia Maria Tig in straight sets in the first round, she skipped the post-match press conference and was fined $15,000, with a threat of escalating fines and expulsion, per Wikipedia.
Roland Garros said it asked Osaka “to reconsider her position and tried unsuccessfully to speak with her to check on her well-being.” The Australian Open, Roland-Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open jointly wrote to her, reminding her of the consequences of not meeting her obligations. Organizers said repeated violations could lead to tougher sanctions, including default from the tournament.
On May 31, 2021, Osaka announced her withdrawal, citing mental health issues. In a statement posted on social media, she said she had “suffered long bouts of depression” since the 2018 US Open. “So here in Paris I was already feeling vulnerable and anxious so I thought it was better to exercise self-care and skip the press conferences,” she wrote. “I announced it preemptively because I do feel like the rules are quite outdated in parts and I wanted to highlight that,” she added, before saying, “I’m gonna take some time away from the court now, but when the time is right I really want to work with the Tour to discuss ways we can make things better for the players, press and fans.” Per The Guardian, Osaka said speaking to the press causes her “huge anxiety”. The Guardian characterized the four tournaments’ Sunday statement as a “disproportionate response” that forced Osaka to choose between significant punishment and resuming the press duties that fuel her anxiety.
Public Reaction and Consequences #
Per Wikipedia, many fellow athletes and sponsors voiced support, with some noting the rarely discussed issue of mental health, although the overall reaction from the wider tennis community was mixed. Coco Gauff wrote, “Stay strong. I admire your vulnerability”. Billie Jean King said on Twitter, “It’s incredibly brave that Naomi Osaka has revealed her truth about her struggle with depression. Right now, the important thing is that we give her the space and time she needs. We wish her well.” Martina Navratilova tweeted, “I truly hope she will be OK.” The WTA said mental health and awareness of the subject are among its “highest priorities.”
Criticism of the tournament’s handling also surfaced. CNN reported that the French Open had posted a since-deleted tweet showing Rafael Nadal, Kei Nishikori, Aryna Sabalenka, and Coco Gauff at media duties with the caption “They understood the assignment.” Rennae Stubbs, a four-time Grand Slam doubles champion, replied in two tweets: “This is some serious shade from Roland Garros & the FFT (French Tennis Federation).” and “making a player feel guilty & humiliating her is NOT a good look for a tennis fed.” On June 17, Osaka’s agent announced she would also skip the upcoming Wimbledon, though she was expected to play in the Tokyo Olympics.
Current Status #
As of the sources reviewed, Osaka’s career continued after the 2021 episode. Days before the 2023 Australian Open, she withdrew from the tournament and revealed that she was pregnant with her first child with then-partner, rapper Cordae; she gave birth to a daughter on July 7, 2023. Per the Wikipedia infobox, Osaka is still competing as of 2026, holding a current ranking of No. 14 as of June 29, 2026, including a career-best fourth-round finish at the 2026 French Open. On January 6, 2025, Osaka announced that she and Cordae were no longer in a relationship.
Impact on Their Career/Life #
The 2021 episode became a defining moment, turning a disciplinary matter into a wider conversation about how professional tennis treats players’ mental health and media obligations. Osaka had already lived with depression since the 2018 US Open, and her public disclosure of those struggles — along with the fine and the “They understood the assignment” tweet — drew both broad support and a divided, sometimes critical, reaction. The fine and withdrawal cost her the 2021 French Open campaign and the start of the clay and grass seasons, and the absences affected her rankings. The episode did not remove her from the sport: she returned to tour and as of 2026 was still competing, reaching a career-best French Open fourth round that year while ranked No. 14. Her standing was shaped by scrutiny of those events rather than any ban.