‘I feel for Naomi’: Serena Williams, other major sports stars speak out in support of Osaka

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Serena Williams says she’d like to provide Naomi Osaka a hug after the world No.2 withdrew from the French Open on Monday.Osaka’s departure from the match follows her resolution to not take part in any media conferences at Roland Garros, initially citing psychological well being causes.She has since revealed that she “suffered lengthy bouts of despair” after successful her first grand slam title in 2018.’I really feel for Naomi’Fellow sports activities stars together with Usain Bolt, Kyrie Irving and Venus Williams additionally confirmed their help for Osaka by commenting on her Instagram submit, with the latter writing, “So pleased with you. Deal with your self and see you again successful quickly!”Throughout her post-match media convention 23-time grand slam champion Serena Williams stated: “The one factor I really feel is that I really feel for Naomi. I really feel like I want I might give her a hug as a result of I do know what it is like. Like I stated, I have been in these positions.”Nevertheless, different tennis stars have stated media duties are half and parcel of the job.”Press and gamers and the tournaments comes hand-in-hand,” two-time grand slam champion Victoria Azarenka stated. “I believe it is essential in creating our sport, in selling our sport.”She added that there have been moments when the media wanted to be extra empathetic.World No. 5 Sofia Kenin acknowledged the pressures of being a younger athlete within the highlight, however stated, “That is what you signed up for.””That is sport. There’s expectations from the skin, sponsors and everybody. You simply should in some way handle it,” Kenin added.An outdated follow?Osaka’s withdrawal has sparked questions in regards to the relationship athletes have with the media, and whether or not or not press conferences function on the expense of their psychological well being.”I’m not a pure public speaker and get large waves of hysteria earlier than I converse to the world’s media,” Osaka stated in her assertion on-line.Within the Guardian, Jonathan Liew described media conferences as “not a significant change” however relatively “a cynical and sometimes predatory sport,” the place athletes are subjected to “intimate questions within the least intimate setting.”Different journalists took a much less sympathetic stance.”The immaturity, preciousness and hypocrisy of Naomi Osaka leaves me speechless,” wrote Will Swanton within the Australian.”Having advised everybody to talk out towards the injustices of this world, she’s determined to clam up, refusing to do press conferences on the French Open … whereas being blissful sufficient to pocket the hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in prize cash being provided by the very match and authorities physique she’s flipping the chook to.”Conventional press within the age of social mediaHowever, some have identified the best way Black girls are scrutinized when revealing their psychological well being difficulties to the media, drawing parallels between Meghan Markle’s remedy by the British tabloids.Osaka’s withdrawal additionally poses a wider debate of whether or not or not athletes nonetheless want conventional media within the age of social media.Press conferences and different long-established media environments are not the one manner for athletes to get their voice on the market, with on-line platforms creating an avenue for gamers to speak straight with followers, and management their very own narrative.

Serena Williams says she’d like to provide Naomi Osaka a hug after the world No.2 withdrew from the French Open on Monday.

Osaka’s departure from the match follows her resolution to not take part in any media conferences at Roland Garros, initially citing psychological well being causes.

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She has since revealed that she “suffered lengthy bouts of despair” after successful her first grand slam title in 2018.

‘I really feel for Naomi’

Fellow sports activities stars together with Usain Bolt, Kyrie Irving and Venus Williams additionally confirmed their help for Osaka by commenting on her Instagram submit, with the latter writing, “So pleased with you. Deal with your self and see you again successful quickly!”

Throughout her post-match media convention 23-time grand slam champion Serena Williams stated: “The one factor I really feel is that I really feel for Naomi. I really feel like I want I might give her a hug as a result of I do know what it is like. Like I stated, I have been in these positions.”

Nevertheless, different tennis stars have stated media duties are half and parcel of the job.

“Press and gamers and the tournaments comes hand-in-hand,” two-time grand slam champion Victoria Azarenka stated. “I believe it is essential in creating our sport, in selling our sport.”

She added that there have been moments when the media wanted to be extra empathetic.

World No. 5 Sofia Kenin acknowledged the pressures of being a younger athlete within the highlight, however stated, “That is what you signed up for.”

“That is sport. There’s expectations from the skin, sponsors and everybody. You simply should in some way handle it,” Kenin added.

An outdated follow?

Osaka’s withdrawal has sparked questions in regards to the relationship athletes have with the media, and whether or not or not press conferences function on the expense of their psychological well being.

“I’m not a pure public speaker and get large waves of hysteria earlier than I converse to the world’s media,” Osaka stated in her assertion on-line.

Within the Guardian, Jonathan Liew described media conferences as “not a significant change” however relatively “a cynical and sometimes predatory sport,” the place athletes are subjected to “intimate questions within the least intimate setting.”

Different journalists took a much less sympathetic stance.

“The immaturity, preciousness and hypocrisy of Naomi Osaka leaves me speechless,” wrote Will Swanton within the Australian.

“Having advised everybody to talk out towards the injustices of this world, she’s determined to clam up, refusing to do press conferences on the French Open … whereas being blissful sufficient to pocket the hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in prize cash being provided by the very match and authorities physique she’s flipping the chook to.”

Conventional press within the age of social media

Nevertheless, some have pointed out the best way Black girls are scrutinized when revealing their psychological well being difficulties to the media, drawing parallels between Meghan Markle’s remedy by the British tabloids.

Osaka’s withdrawal additionally poses a wider debate of whether or not or not athletes nonetheless want conventional media within the age of social media.

Press conferences and different long-established media environments are not the one manner for athletes to get their voice on the market, with on-line platforms creating an avenue for gamers to speak straight with followers, and management their very own narrative.

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