Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka was fined $ 15,000 (over 381,000 crowns) by Roland Garros for failing to attend a press conference after the first round. The Grand Slam organizers have threatened to top the world number two not only from the French Open, but also from other Big Four tournaments if they continue to announce a boycott of the media.
Osaka aroused a few days ago with a message on Twitter that she would not talk to journalists in Paris, because she said press conferences could have a negative impact on the mental health of athletes.
She entered Roland Garros today by winning over Romanian Patricia Maria Tig 6: 4, 7: 6 and did not really come after the match at the mandatory press conference.
Tennis players can be fined up to $ 20,000 for failing to meet with the media after the match. The attitude of the four-time Grand Slam champion did not find much support from her colleagues. Some have expressed understanding for its reasons, but according to them, communication with the media is a professional sport.
Legendary Swedish tennis player Mats Wilander sees it the same way, according to which Osaka should not play if she is unable to attend press conferences. “Why should she be treated differently from other players? That would not be fair to them,” Wilander, who works as a tennis expert for Eurosport, told Reuters today.
“She has to go there. She has sponsors, she is the highest paid athlete in the world. We want to see great champions win, celebrate, but we also want inspiration from them when they face difficulties,” said Wilander, who said psychological problems could be related to the coronavirus pandemic.
He challenged Osaka to change her mind. “Otherwise, don’t play if you can’t do your job,” he told the twenty-three-year-old tennis player.
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