Tennis' Naomi Osaka, 23, has withdrawn from the French Tennis Open due to stress from having to talk to the media. Japan's world number two said she did not want to do post-match interviews to "protect her mental health". The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) said this was in breach of her obligations. It threatened to expel her from the tournament if she did not talk to the media. It then said it wants to "create meaningful improvements" to support players with mental health problems. It added: "We commend Naomi for sharing in her own words the pressures and anxieties she is feeling."
Naomi Osaka has won four Grand Slam titles. She is the reigning champion at the US Open and Australian Open. She had problems coping with being in the spotlight as one of tennis' biggest stars. She said: "The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018." The WTA has faced criticism for the way it handled Ms Osaka's mental health concerns. However, it recently said: "We empathise with the unique pressures tennis players may face." Many top players are behind Ms Osaka. Serena Williams said: "I feel for Naomi....I wish I could give her a hug."