{"id":1366679,"date":"2021-05-27T16:02:41","date_gmt":"2021-05-27T20:02:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1366679"},"modified":"2021-05-27T16:02:44","modified_gmt":"2021-05-27T20:02:44","slug":"naomi-osaka-1-of-rare-mistakes-of-impressive-tennis-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/naomi-osaka-1-of-rare-mistakes-of-impressive-tennis-career\/","title":{"rendered":"Naomi Osaka Has Made 1 of the Rare Mistakes of Her Impressive Tennis Career"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/naomi-osaka-received-powerful-advice-from-kobe-bryant-before-he-passed-away-which-she-uses-every-day\/\">Naomi Osaka<\/a> proves time and time again that she can save break points, set points, and match points. Now, someone needs to step in and save one of the world\u2019s great <a href=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/tag\/tennis-players\/\">tennis players<\/a> from herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What seems on the surface like a logical, principled stand on Osaka\u2019s part in the name of mental health is going to open her up to second-guessing and speculation. And if either is off base, she\u2019ll struggle to set the record straight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-naomi-osaka-is-a-star-on-and-off-the-tennis-court\"><strong>Naomi Osaka is a star on and off the tennis court<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Naomi-Osaka-1.jpg?strip=all&#038;quality=89\" alt=\"Naomi Osaka is only 23 years old but has already won the U.S. Open and the Australian Open twice apiece. | Tim Clayton\/Corbis via Getty Images)\" class=\"wp-image-1366695\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Naomi-Osaka-1.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Naomi-Osaka-1.jpg?w=300&amp;h=200 300w, https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Naomi-Osaka-1.jpg?w=768&amp;h=512 768w, https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Naomi-Osaka-1.jpg?w=1024&amp;h=683 1024w, https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Naomi-Osaka-1.jpg?w=1200&amp;h=800 1200w, https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Naomi-Osaka-1.jpg?w=90&amp;h=60 90w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><figcaption>Naomi Osaka is only 23 years old but has already won the U.S. Open and the Australian Open twice apiece. | Tim Clayton\/Corbis via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Naomi Osaka became a household name with even casual tennis fans courtesy of her thrilling victory over the legendary <a href=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/serena-williams-revitalized-slumping-career-letter-trip-changed-life\/\">Serena Williams<\/a> at the <a href=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/naomi-osaka-defends-2018-match-serena-williams\/\">2018 U.S. Open<\/a>, followed by a triumph at the Australian Open. She pulled the same double beginning with the 2020 U.S. Open, and Osaka currently sits at No. 2 in the world in the WTA rankings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At just 23 years old, the native of Japan seemingly has at least a decade of elite tennis ahead of her, and marketers have noticed how fans have embraced Osaka on either side of the Pacific Ocean. The combination of her results and her reach has attracted a lucrative array of sponsors, including Nike, Louis Vuitton, BodyArmor, and Levi\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a result, Sportico.com calculates her earnings over the past 12 months at $55.2 million, a record for female athletes that places her 15<sup>th<\/sup> on the worldwide list of \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportico.com\/personalities\/athletes\/2021\/the-worlds-100-highest-paid-athletes-score-4-2-billion-in-2021-1234630483\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">highest-paid competitors<\/a>. The website reports that only Roger Federer, LeBron James, and Tiger Woods bettered the $50 million she earned for activities off the court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBeing a woman has made her even more attractive for sponsors,\u201d said IMG marketing agent Stuart Duguid, who represents Osaka. \u201cThere\u2019s a big push to invest in women in sports.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-osaka-has-declared-a-media-boycott-at-the-french-open\"><strong>Osaka has declared a media boycott at the French Open<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"qme\" dir=\"ltr\">\u2764\ufe0f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/EegFSKnoie\">pic.twitter.com\/EegFSKnoie<\/a><\/p>&mdash; NaomiOsaka\u5927\u5742\u306a\u304a\u307f (@naomiosaka) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/naomiosaka\/status\/1397665030015959040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 26, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Nothing attracts the attention of the media and tennis fans more than the four Grand Slam events. The main draw of the French Open begins on May 30. Osaka bowed out in the third round in her previous two appearances at Roland Garros. If that\u2019s the case again this year, then she will exit more quietly than usual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Osaka announced this week on social media that she will not speak to reporters during the French Open, citing mental health concerns for herself and her competitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I've often felt that people have no regard for athletes mental health and this rings very true whenever I see a press conference or partake in one,\u201d her statement read in part. \u201cWe'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'm just not going to subject myself to people that doubt me.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Osaka acknowledged that she expects organizers to levy penalties up to the maximum $20,000 fine each time she misses a post-match news conference. She said she hopes the money would find its way to causes promoting mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The world\u2019s second-ranked player has spoken about mental health previously. She referenced her bouts with depression at a 2018 tournament, <a href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/naomi-osaka-french-open-media-blackout-mental-health-tennis-233117050.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Yahoo! Sports<\/a> reported. She suggested later in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teenvogue.com\/story\/naomi-osaka-us-open-champion-mental-health-serena-williams\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Teen Vogue<\/a>\u00a0interview that the issue is more widespread for athletes than outsiders might suspect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-osaka-is-discounting-the-role-the-media-plays\"><strong>Osaka is discounting the role the media plays<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Sportsperson of the Year: Naomi Osaka | Sports Illustrated\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Bg6FYOlYu9c?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There is no reason to doubt Osaka\u2019s sincerity or question whether she has an ulterior motive for her media boycott, but her decision not to speak to reporters at the French Open comes after a string of disappointing results that could be weighing on her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maria Sakkari, ranked 18<sup>th<\/sup> in the world, beat Osaka in the Miami Open quarterfinals, 6-0, 6-4; No. 19 Karolina Mucova took her out in the round of 32 in Madrid, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1; and No. 29 <a href=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/tennis-star-jessica-pegula-piles-up-wins-and-buffalo-bills-qb-josh-allen-is-suddenly-old-news\/\">Jessica Pegula<\/a> ousted Osaka in the Italian Open round of 32 for the American\u2019s biggest win ever, 7-6. 6-2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Osaka may not appreciate three of relevant points associated with her silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, she owes 90% of her income from the past year to sponsorship deals rather than prize money. Endorsement partners count on her visibility on TV and the internet and in print, whether it\u2019s through logos on her courtside equipment bag or a visor worn during a post-match interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More significantly, Osaka is discounting the role that reporters play in communicating her observations and feelings to the star\u2019s many fans. Even in the wired world, it\u2019s not as though they can reach out to her directly and expect a response. It\u2019s the reporters who play the role of conveying her messages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, just because Osaka has the financial wherewithal to pay the fines for skipping media obligations, that doesn\u2019t mean other competitors can do likewise. Aside from the usual questions, those other players are likely to face questions about Osaka\u2019s performance that they might not feel comfortable addressing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Like <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Sports7dotcom\/\"><em>Sports7<\/em><\/a><em> on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Sports719\"><em>@sports719<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>RELATED: <a href=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/tennis-star-naomi-osakas-1st-priority-winning-works\/\">Tennis Star Naomi Osaka\u2019s 1st Priority Isn\u2019t Winning and It Works<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Naomi Osaka, the world's second-ranked women's tennis player, has announced that she will not be speaking to reporters during the French Open.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":140,"featured_media":1366686,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12944],"tags":[147035],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.3 (Yoast SEO v22.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Naomi Osaka Has Made 1 of the Rare Mistakes of Her Impressive Tennis Career - Sports7<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Naomi Osaka, the world&#039;s second-ranked women&#039;s tennis player, says she won&#039;t be speaking to reporters during the French Open.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/naomi-osaka-1-of-rare-mistakes-of-impressive-tennis-career\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Naomi Osaka Has Made 1 of the Rare Mistakes of Her Impressive Tennis Career\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Naomi Osaka, the world&#039;s second-ranked women&#039;s tennis player, says she won&#039;t be speaking to reporters during the French Open.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/naomi-osaka-1-of-rare-mistakes-of-impressive-tennis-career\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Sports7\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-05-27T20:02:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-05-27T20:02:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Naomi-Osaka.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"John Moriello\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Sports7J\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"John Moriello\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/naomi-osaka-1-of-rare-mistakes-of-impressive-tennis-career\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/naomi-osaka-1-of-rare-mistakes-of-impressive-tennis-career\/\",\"name\":\"Naomi Osaka Has Made 1 of the Rare Mistakes of Her Impressive Tennis Career - Sports7\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/naomi-osaka-1-of-rare-mistakes-of-impressive-tennis-career\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/naomi-osaka-1-of-rare-mistakes-of-impressive-tennis-career\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Naomi-Osaka.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-05-27T20:02:41+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-05-27T20:02:44+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/#\/schema\/person\/625c659832a23452683545602e055cac\"},\"description\":\"Naomi Osaka, the world's second-ranked women's tennis player, says she won't be speaking to reporters during the French Open.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/naomi-osaka-1-of-rare-mistakes-of-impressive-tennis-career\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/naomi-osaka-1-of-rare-mistakes-of-impressive-tennis-career\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/naomi-osaka-1-of-rare-mistakes-of-impressive-tennis-career\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Naomi-Osaka.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Naomi-Osaka.jpg\",\"width\":1500,\"height\":1000,\"caption\":\"Naomi Osaka Has Made 1 of the Rare Mistakes of Her Impressive Tennis Career Naomi Osaka proves time and time again that she can save break points, set points, and match points. Now, someone needs to step in and save one of the world\u2019s great tennis players from herself. What seems on the surface like a logical, principled stand on Osaka\u2019s part in the name of mental health is going to open her up to second-guessing and speculation. And if either is off base, she\u2019ll struggle to set the record straight. Naomi Osaka is a star on and off the tennis court Naomi Osaka became a household name with even casual tennis fans courtesy of her thrilling victory over the legendary Serena Williams at the 2018 U.S. Open, followed by a triumph at the Australian Open. She pulled the same double beginning with the 2020 U.S. Open, and Osaka currently sits at No. 2 in the world in the WTA rankings. At just 23 years old, the native of Japan seemingly has at least a decade of elite tennis ahead of her, and marketers have noticed how fans have embraced Osaka on either side of the Pacific Ocean. The combination of her results and her reach has attracted a lucrative array of sponsors, including Nike, Louis Vuitton, BodyArmor, and Levi\u2019s. As a result, Sportico.com calculates her earnings over the past 12 months at $55.2 million, a record for female athletes that places her 15th on the worldwide list of highest-paid competitors. The website reports that Roger Federer, LeBron James, and Tiger Woods were the only athletes to better the $50 million she earned for activities off the court. \u201cBeing a woman has made her even more attractive for sponsors,\u201d said IMG marketing agent Stuart Duguid, who represents Osaka. \u201cThere\u2019s a big push to invest in women in sports.\u201d Osaka has declared a media boycott at the French Open https:\/\/twitter.com\/naomiosaka\/status\/1397665030015959040 Nothing attracts the attention of the media and tennis fans more than the four Grand Slam events. The main draw of the French Open begins on May 30. Osaka bowed out in the third round in her previous two appearances at Roland Garros. If that\u2019s the case again this year, then she will exit more quietly than usual. That\u2019s because Osaka announced this week on social media that she will not speak to reporters during the French Open, citing mental health concerns for herself and her competitors. \\\"I've often felt that people have no regard for athletes mental health and this rings very true whenever I see a press conference or partake in one,\u201d her statement read in part. \u201cWe'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'm just not going to subject myself to people that doubt me.\\\" Osaka acknowledged that she expects organizers to levy penalties up to the maximum $20,000 fine each time she misses a post-match news conference. She said she hopes the money would find its way to causes promoting mental health. The world\u2019s second-ranked player has spoken about mental health previously. She referenced her bouts with depression at a 2018 tournament, Yahoo! Sports reported. She suggested later in a Teen Vogue interview that the issue is more widespread for athletes than outsiders might suspect. Osaka doesn\u2019t fully understand the role the media plays There is no reason to doubt Osaka\u2019s sincerity or question whether she has an ulterior motive for her media boycott, but her decision not to speak to reporters at the French Open comes after a string of disappointing results that could be weighing on her. Maria Sakkari, ranked 18th in the world, beat Osaka in the Miami Open quarterfinals, 6-0, 6-4; No. 19 Karolina Mucova took her out in the round of 32 in Madrid, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1; and No. 29 Jessica Pegula ousted Osaka in the Italian Open round of 32 for the American\u2019s biggest win ever, 7-6. 6-2. Osaka may not appreciate three of relevant points associated with her silence. First, she owes 90% of her income from the past year to sponsorship deals rather than prize money. Endorsement partners count on her visibility on TV and the internet and in print, whether it\u2019s through logos seen on her courtside equipment bag or a visor worn during a post-match interview. More significantly, Osaka is discounting the role that reporters play in communicating her observations and feelings to the star\u2019s many fans. Even in the wired world, it\u2019s not as though they can reach out to her directly and expect a response. It\u2019s the reporters who play the role of conveying her messages. Finally, just because Osaka has the financial wherewithal to pay the fines for skipping media obligations, that doesn\u2019t mean other competitors can do likewise. Aside from the usual questions, those other players are likely to face questions about Osaka\u2019s performance that they might not feel comfortable addressing. Like Sports7 on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @sports719. RELATED: Naomi Osaka practices in preparation for the 2021 French Open at Roland Garros on May 26, 2021. in Paris. | Tim Clayton\/Corbis via Getty Images\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/naomi-osaka-1-of-rare-mistakes-of-impressive-tennis-career\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Naomi Osaka Has Made 1 of the Rare Mistakes of Her Impressive Tennis Career\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/\",\"name\":\"Sports7\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/#\/schema\/person\/625c659832a23452683545602e055cac\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/author\/john-moriello\/\",\"name\":\"John Moriello\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/John-Moriello-96x96.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/John-Moriello-96x96.jpeg\",\"caption\":\"John Moriello\"},\"description\":\"John Moriello started covering sports in 1982, began digital publishing in 1995, and joined Sports7 in 2020. A graduate of St. John Fisher University, he finds inspiration in the underdogs and the fascinating stories sports can tell (both the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat). John expertly covers all aspects of NASCAR. Beginning with his 2014 coverage at Fox Sports of the aftermath of the dirt-race tragedy in which Kevin Ward Jr. died after being struck by a car driven by NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart, John has excelled as a journalist who specializes in the motorsports world. He previously spent more than three decades covering high school sports and worked as a beat writer covering Big East football and basketball, but NASCAR is now where the true expertise falls. John is a member of the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame (2013), the President of the New York State Sportswriters Association, and a two-time Best of Gannett winner for print and online collaborations whose work has appeared on FoxSports.com and MaxPreps.com.\",\"sameAs\":[\"\",\"Sports7J\",\"john-moriello-1a11743\",\"\",\"\"],\"jobTitle\":\"John Moriello | Sports7 Staff Writer, Producer - Motorsports\",\"email\":\"\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Naomi Osaka Has Made 1 of the Rare Mistakes of Her Impressive Tennis Career - Sports7","description":"Naomi Osaka, the world's second-ranked women's tennis player, says she won't be speaking to reporters during the French Open.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/naomi-osaka-1-of-rare-mistakes-of-impressive-tennis-career\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Naomi Osaka Has Made 1 of the Rare Mistakes of Her Impressive Tennis Career","og_description":"Naomi Osaka, the world's second-ranked women's tennis player, says she won't be speaking to reporters during the French Open.","og_url":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/naomi-osaka-1-of-rare-mistakes-of-impressive-tennis-career\/","og_site_name":"Sports7","article_published_time":"2021-05-27T20:02:41+00:00","article_modified_time":"2021-05-27T20:02:44+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1500,"height":1000,"url":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Naomi-Osaka.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"John Moriello","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@Sports7J","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"John Moriello","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/naomi-osaka-1-of-rare-mistakes-of-impressive-tennis-career\/","url":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/naomi-osaka-1-of-rare-mistakes-of-impressive-tennis-career\/","name":"Naomi Osaka Has Made 1 of the Rare Mistakes of Her Impressive Tennis Career - Sports7","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/naomi-osaka-1-of-rare-mistakes-of-impressive-tennis-career\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/naomi-osaka-1-of-rare-mistakes-of-impressive-tennis-career\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Naomi-Osaka.jpg","datePublished":"2021-05-27T20:02:41+00:00","dateModified":"2021-05-27T20:02:44+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/#\/schema\/person\/625c659832a23452683545602e055cac"},"description":"Naomi Osaka, the world's second-ranked women's tennis player, says she won't be speaking to reporters during the French Open.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/naomi-osaka-1-of-rare-mistakes-of-impressive-tennis-career\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/naomi-osaka-1-of-rare-mistakes-of-impressive-tennis-career\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/naomi-osaka-1-of-rare-mistakes-of-impressive-tennis-career\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Naomi-Osaka.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Naomi-Osaka.jpg","width":1500,"height":1000,"caption":"Naomi Osaka Has Made 1 of the Rare Mistakes of Her Impressive Tennis Career Naomi Osaka proves time and time again that she can save break points, set points, and match points. Now, someone needs to step in and save one of the world\u2019s great tennis players from herself. What seems on the surface like a logical, principled stand on Osaka\u2019s part in the name of mental health is going to open her up to second-guessing and speculation. And if either is off base, she\u2019ll struggle to set the record straight. Naomi Osaka is a star on and off the tennis court Naomi Osaka became a household name with even casual tennis fans courtesy of her thrilling victory over the legendary Serena Williams at the 2018 U.S. Open, followed by a triumph at the Australian Open. She pulled the same double beginning with the 2020 U.S. Open, and Osaka currently sits at No. 2 in the world in the WTA rankings. At just 23 years old, the native of Japan seemingly has at least a decade of elite tennis ahead of her, and marketers have noticed how fans have embraced Osaka on either side of the Pacific Ocean. The combination of her results and her reach has attracted a lucrative array of sponsors, including Nike, Louis Vuitton, BodyArmor, and Levi\u2019s. As a result, Sportico.com calculates her earnings over the past 12 months at $55.2 million, a record for female athletes that places her 15th on the worldwide list of highest-paid competitors. The website reports that Roger Federer, LeBron James, and Tiger Woods were the only athletes to better the $50 million she earned for activities off the court. \u201cBeing a woman has made her even more attractive for sponsors,\u201d said IMG marketing agent Stuart Duguid, who represents Osaka. \u201cThere\u2019s a big push to invest in women in sports.\u201d Osaka has declared a media boycott at the French Open https:\/\/twitter.com\/naomiosaka\/status\/1397665030015959040 Nothing attracts the attention of the media and tennis fans more than the four Grand Slam events. The main draw of the French Open begins on May 30. Osaka bowed out in the third round in her previous two appearances at Roland Garros. If that\u2019s the case again this year, then she will exit more quietly than usual. That\u2019s because Osaka announced this week on social media that she will not speak to reporters during the French Open, citing mental health concerns for herself and her competitors. \"I've often felt that people have no regard for athletes mental health and this rings very true whenever I see a press conference or partake in one,\u201d her statement read in part. \u201cWe'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'm just not going to subject myself to people that doubt me.\" Osaka acknowledged that she expects organizers to levy penalties up to the maximum $20,000 fine each time she misses a post-match news conference. She said she hopes the money would find its way to causes promoting mental health. The world\u2019s second-ranked player has spoken about mental health previously. She referenced her bouts with depression at a 2018 tournament, Yahoo! Sports reported. She suggested later in a Teen Vogue interview that the issue is more widespread for athletes than outsiders might suspect. Osaka doesn\u2019t fully understand the role the media plays There is no reason to doubt Osaka\u2019s sincerity or question whether she has an ulterior motive for her media boycott, but her decision not to speak to reporters at the French Open comes after a string of disappointing results that could be weighing on her. Maria Sakkari, ranked 18th in the world, beat Osaka in the Miami Open quarterfinals, 6-0, 6-4; No. 19 Karolina Mucova took her out in the round of 32 in Madrid, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1; and No. 29 Jessica Pegula ousted Osaka in the Italian Open round of 32 for the American\u2019s biggest win ever, 7-6. 6-2. Osaka may not appreciate three of relevant points associated with her silence. First, she owes 90% of her income from the past year to sponsorship deals rather than prize money. Endorsement partners count on her visibility on TV and the internet and in print, whether it\u2019s through logos seen on her courtside equipment bag or a visor worn during a post-match interview. More significantly, Osaka is discounting the role that reporters play in communicating her observations and feelings to the star\u2019s many fans. Even in the wired world, it\u2019s not as though they can reach out to her directly and expect a response. It\u2019s the reporters who play the role of conveying her messages. Finally, just because Osaka has the financial wherewithal to pay the fines for skipping media obligations, that doesn\u2019t mean other competitors can do likewise. Aside from the usual questions, those other players are likely to face questions about Osaka\u2019s performance that they might not feel comfortable addressing. Like Sports7 on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @sports719. RELATED: Naomi Osaka practices in preparation for the 2021 French Open at Roland Garros on May 26, 2021. in Paris. | Tim Clayton\/Corbis via Getty Images"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/naomi-osaka-1-of-rare-mistakes-of-impressive-tennis-career\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Naomi Osaka Has Made 1 of the Rare Mistakes of Her Impressive Tennis Career"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/#website","url":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/","name":"Sports7","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/#\/schema\/person\/625c659832a23452683545602e055cac","url":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/author\/john-moriello\/","name":"John Moriello","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/John-Moriello-96x96.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/John-Moriello-96x96.jpeg","caption":"John Moriello"},"description":"John Moriello started covering sports in 1982, began digital publishing in 1995, and joined Sports7 in 2020. A graduate of St. John Fisher University, he finds inspiration in the underdogs and the fascinating stories sports can tell (both the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat). John expertly covers all aspects of NASCAR. Beginning with his 2014 coverage at Fox Sports of the aftermath of the dirt-race tragedy in which Kevin Ward Jr. died after being struck by a car driven by NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart, John has excelled as a journalist who specializes in the motorsports world. He previously spent more than three decades covering high school sports and worked as a beat writer covering Big East football and basketball, but NASCAR is now where the true expertise falls. John is a member of the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame (2013), the President of the New York State Sportswriters Association, and a two-time Best of Gannett winner for print and online collaborations whose work has appeared on FoxSports.com and MaxPreps.com.","sameAs":["","Sports7J","john-moriello-1a11743","",""],"jobTitle":"John Moriello | Sports7 Staff Writer, Producer - Motorsports","email":""}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1366679"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/140"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1366679"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1366679\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1366698,"href":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1366679\/revisions\/1366698"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1366686"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1366679"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1366679"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1366679"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}