A little backstory. I first became curious about tennis in 1999 when Serena Williams played and won her first Grand Slam title. I’ve been a fan ever since. I enjoyed watching Serena and Venus Williams dominate the sport, making history as they won title after title.
Fast forward to 2018. It was Serena William’s grand re-debut after giving birth to her daughter Alexis Olympia in 2017. Serena was slated to make history by securing her 24th+ Grand Slam title(s). Serena was off to a rocky start. She lost the Wimbledon Grand Slam to Angelique Kerber. We all hoped Serena would regain her footing at the U.S. Open.
Like many Serena fans, I was first introduced to the 2018 Indian Well’s Champion Naomi Osaka when she and Serena Williams faced off at the 2018 U.S. Open Grand Slam finals. This match was by far the most contentious. Serena Williams was penalized for receiving coaching, racket abuse, and verbal abuse. Fans went wild, and then the ultimate upset came when Naomi Osaka outmatched Serena for a 6-2, 6-4 victory securing her first Grand Slam title.
I went into that spiel because I wanted to give you the backdrop to Naomi Osaka’s rise to fame. A number of unfortunate events overshadowed Naomi’s hard work and dedication. It wasn’t a bed of roses –who wants to win their first Grand Slam title under those conditions? In my opinion, Naomi was not received warmly by the tennis community and frankly was treated poorly for the upset. Let’s be real, Naomi ended up at the U.S. Open finals because of her skill, hard work, and dedication. Playing against Serena Williams was a dream come true for Naomi.
Naomi has proven herself time and time again. She’s won a total of 7 career titles. Naomi ranked #1 in tennis singles in 2019 and currently ranks #2. Naomi and her team continues to work hard to secure her place in history. I cannot say for certainty, but I can only imagine the amount of stress and pressure placed upon 23-year-old Naomi to prove haters wrong, secure wins, and face the press’ questions/comments laden with controversy and tactical booby traps.
I personally think these press conferences can be brutal to watch. The questions are geared towards exploiting insecurities and drawing out fears –despite your wins or losses. Can you imagine sitting for a 20-minute conference in which you’re being picked apart and exploited for clicks and views? How long can we expect someone to persevere under these types of conditions?
During the 2021 Roland Garros French Open, the press went after Naomi. There was ongoing criticism of Naomi’s ‘bad record on clay [court].’ I think this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. These talks prompted Naomi to be proactive and protect her wellbeing by opting out of speaking with the press during the tournament to focus on her mental wellbeing and game. This was controversial as Naomi understood that missing press conferences would result in possible match default and a $15,000 fine for each missed conference. Naomi skipped her press conference, and the attention and focus shifted away from Naomi’s wellbeing to something unrecognizable. Naomi ultimately decided to withdraw from the 2021 Roland Garros French Open altogether.
June 1st, 2021: See Naomi’s statement posted to her Instagram.
Below is a broad definition of social anxiety and depression. Social anxiety sometimes referred to as social phobia, is a type of anxiety that causes extreme fear in social settings. Those with social anxiety often have trouble talking to people, meeting new people, and attending social gatherings. Depression is a common and serious condition that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and your actions.
Just as I suspected, Naomi has been placed under a great deal of stress and anxiety following the 2018 U.S. Grand Slam. And let’s put this into perspective, Naomi was 21-years-old in 2018. Let that sink in for a moment.
What Can We Learn From Naomi Osaka?
1. Call it out. You don’t have to suffer in silence. Call a spade a spade and name the source of your stress.
2. Be Bold + Unapologetic. You are responsible for getting your needs and wants met –so, prioritize them! If something isn’t serving you, remove it completely or take steps towards containing it. Free yourself of doubt, stand firmly in your conviction.
3. Don’t put a price tag on your peace of mind. For Naomi, paying a $15,000 fine and facing match default was worth her mental wellbeing.
4. Forget the naysayers. People will criticize you at every point along your journey — at your lows, highs, and everywhere in between.
Final Thought.
I support Naomi’s recognition and decision to prioritize her mental health. It is my hope that the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) put policies in place to support its players’ mental well-being.