Jubilee Post News & Views
Special Desk
For not speaking to media, a responsibility of players towards fans in the Grand Slam, Naomi Osaka, world’s number two is facing expulsion from the French Open and future Grand Slams.
Organisors say if she continues to refuse to speak to the media the expulsion may still remain for her. The issue came up after Japan’s Osaka said last week she will not take any news conferences during Roland Garros because she wants to protect her mental health. Well, she was fined $15,000 (£10,570) for not doing media after Sunday’s first-round win over Romania’s Patricia Maria Tig. The second seed won 6-4 7-6 (7-4).
Joint statement from the four Grand Slam organisers said Osaka also faces more substantial fines and future Grand Slam suspensions. Later, Osaka wrote a tweet, “anger is lack of understanding. change makes people uncomfortable”.
The Grand Slams added that following Osaka’s announcement, Roland Garros teams asked the 23-year-old to reconsider her position and were unsuccessful in their attempts to check on her wellbeing.
After a lack of engagement from Osaka, the Grand Slam organisers wrote to her to offer support, as well as to remind her of her obligations.
“A core element of the Grand Slam regulations is the responsibility of the players to engage with the media, whatever the result of their match, a responsibility which players take for the benefit of the sport, the fans and for themselves,” the statement said.
We have advised Naomi Osaka that should she continue to ignore her media obligations during the tournament, she would be exposing herself to possible further Code of Conduct infringement consequences, the organisors pointed.
