Japan’s world No.2 Naomi Osaka has reaffirmed her commitment to playing at the Tokyo Olympics, and said she was under immense pressure to disclose more personal details when she stepped away from tennis at last month’s Roland-Garros major for a mental health break.
The 23-year-old had no regrets about her move, and said former first lady Michelle Obama and sports stars Novak Djokovic, Michael Phelps and Stephen Curry were among those who reached out to support and encourage her.“Athletes are humans. Tennis is our privileged profession, and of course there are commitments off the court that coincide,” Osaka wrote.“But I can’t imagine another profession where a consistent attendance record would be so harshly scrutinised.
“I felt under a great amount of pressure to disclose my symptoms – frankly because the press and the tournament did not believe me. After pulling out of this year’s claycourt and grass majors – in the aftermath of winning last year’s US Open and February’s Australian Open – Osaka is eyeing off success in Tokyo.
“I always try to push myself to speak up for what I believe to be right, but that often comes at a cost of great anxiety. I feel uncomfortable being the spokesperson or face of athlete mental health as it’s still so new to me and I don’t have all the answers,” Osaka wrote.
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