Naomi Osaka needed some time to compose herself during her press conference at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati on Monday.
The Japanese tennis star, who previously withdrew from the French Open and Wimbledon after expressing her struggles with mental health, expressing her sadness at a reporter’s question.
As reported by Sky Sports, a journalist from the Cincinnati Enquirer wanted to talk to her about how she has these outside interests that come with having a media platform and that she is not “crazy” about dealing with the media.
Shortly after, Osaka talked about the fatal earthquake in Haiti with Osaka being reduced to tears before a moderator requested a break from the conference.
The two-time US Open and Australian Open champion returned to the room a few minutes later, saying “Sorry for walking out,” as quoted by Sky Sports.
Osaka later responded to the question saying:
“Ever since I was young, I have had a lot of media interest on me, and I think it’s because of my background as well as how I play. I’m a tennis player. That’s why a lot of people are interested in me,” she responded.
“I would say in that regard I’m quite different to a lot of people, and I can’t really help that there are some things that I tweet or some things that I say that kind of create a lot of news articles or things like that, and I know it’s because I have won a couple of Grand Slams and I have done a lot of press conferences that these things happen.
“But I would also say, I’m not really sure how to balance the two. I’m figuring it out at the same time as you are, I would say.”
I thought @EnquirerDoc ’s question to Osaka was honest & fair, w/zero malicious intent. And @naomiosaka ‘s answer & emotion were fair & honest, too.
Hey @stuartduguid, not everything is an attack. A question that probes isn’t synonymous with “mean.” Pump brakes on the melodrama.— Nick Corey (@nickcorey167) August 17, 2021
Osaka’s agent, Stuart Duguid, was critical of the journalist’s line of questioning in a statement.
“The bully at the Cincinnati Enquirer is the epitome of why player/media relations are so fraught right now,” said Duguid. “Everyone on that Zoom will agree that his tone was all wrong and his sole purpose was to intimidate. Really appalling behaviour.
“And this insinuation that Naomi owes her off-court success to the media is a myth – don’t be so self-indulgent.”