PARIS: Japan’s Naomi Osaka said Wednesday that she will not take part in news conferences at the forthcoming French Open, believing that some post-match inquests are little more than “kicking a person while they’re down”.
The world number two, a four-time Grand Slam title winner, says she will donate the fines she will accrue to mental health charities.
“I am writing this to say that I am not going to do any press during Roland Garros,” the 23-year-old announced on Twitter.
“I have often felt that people have no regard for athletes’ mental health and this rings true whenever I see a press conference or partake in one.
“We’re often sat there and asked questions that we’ve been asked multiple times before or asked questions that bring doubt into our minds and I am not going to subject…