Osaka reveals details of 2021 meltdown

Naomi Osaka has opened up about the mental health issue which led to an emotional meltdown at the French Open two years ago.

Japan’s former WTA no. 1 who recently became a mother, told the Mountaintop Conversations podcast of her despair when she refused to give obligatory post-match interviews in Paris, 2021 and was fined USD 15,000.

The LA-based player has not competed since the US Open 11 months ago and has not advised when she might return – if at all – to the WTA .

“I didn’t know what mental health was,” she said.

“When you grow up nobody talks about it and I honestly think that the first time I heard about mental health was when I withdrew from Roland Garros.

“It’s not that I had a dark childhood or anything for that matter. style, it’s just that everything in my life was very focused on tennis.”

The four-time Grand Slam winner added: “So I felt that I closed myself off more and that my character changed, and I didn’t like that at all. 

“So at that point I was thinking ‘I need to take a break, but I can’t take it because then I’ll get fined’.

“But then I thought I’d rather get the ticket than go through it with my energy.”

Main photo:- Roland Garros French Open Naomi Osaka down and out by Anne Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd