Paris: The leaders of the four Grand Slam tournaments reacted to tennis star Naomi Osaka's stunning withdrawal from the French Open by promising to address players' concerns about mental health.
The pledge came in a statement signed by the same four tennis administrators who threatened the possibility of disqualification or suspension for Osaka on Sunday if she continued to skip news conferences.
The four-time major champion and No. 2-ranked player was fined 15,000 when she didn't speak to reporters after her first-round victory at Roland Garros on Sunday.
The next day, Osaka pulled out of the tournament entirely, saying she experiences huge waves of anxiety before meeting with the media and revealing she has suffered long bouts of depression.
Osaka, a 23-year-old who was born in Japan and moved with her family to the U.S. at age 3, said she would 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.
Tennis players are required to attend news conferences if requested to do so; Grand Slam rules allow for fines up to 20,000 if they don't show up.
On behalf of the Grand Slams, we wish to offer Naomi Osaka our support and assistance in any way possible as she takes time away from the court. She is an exceptional athlete and we look forward to her return as soon as she deems appropriate, Tuesday's statement from those in charge of the French Open, Wimbledon, U.S. Open and Australian Open said.
Mental health is a very challenging issue, which deserves our utmost attention. It is both complex and personal, as what affects one individual does not necessarily affect another.