Japanese world runner-up Naomi Osaka announced earlier this week that she will not be attending press conferences during the Grand Slam tournament in Paris.
The reason is that it affects her mental health.
"I will simply not expose myself to people who doubt me," the 23-year-old wrote on Instagram.
The women's tournament organization WTA says that mental health is of "utmost importance" and that they are open to having a dialogue with Osaka about how to support the players.
"Part of the sport"
But at the same time, the WTA emphasizes that it is important to stand up for the media.
"Professional athletes have a responsibility to supporters and the general public to speak to the media about their competitions, giving them the opportunity to share their own perspective and tell their story," the WTA said in a statement.
The men's world-class Novak Djokovic states that it can be "very difficult" to face the press - but that is not a reason to give up.
- It is not something you always enjoy, especially not if you have just lost a match or something like that, he says.
- But it is part of the sport and part of life on the tour.
This is something we must do, otherwise we will be fined.
Fined in 2020
The Serb himself abstained from the press conference after he was expelled from the US Open 2020 after he angrily fired a ball that accidentally hit a line judge on the neck.
He was then fined $ 7,500, equivalent to SEK 62,000.
The maximum fine is 20,000 dollars, about 165,000 kronor.
The French championships start on Sunday.
Osaka meets the 63-ranked Romanian Patricia Maria Ti in the first round.
CLIP: Novak Djokovic ended up in a heated discussion with the judge (May 12)
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Novak Djokovic got into a heated argument with the referee.
Photo: TT