Roland-Garros 2021: Forget “does not understand” the boycott of the Osaka press

Naomi Osaka’s (future) silence is causing a stir. On Wednesday, the Japanese unveiled her intention not to submit at Roland Garros to the post-match press conference ritual imposed by the authorities of world tennis. Deeming the exercise too repetitive, exhausting and sometimes even injurious and dangerous for “the mental health of athletes”, the world number 2 thus justified her refusal to submit to it. Since this decision made public on social networks, the player has been strongly criticized by the media, the main victims of this announced boycott, but also by the organization of the tournament.

Osaka says she has nothing against Roland and wants to “reform the system”

The person concerned nevertheless wished to assure the organizers of the tournament that she had nothing against them, nor against Roland-Garros, nor against journalists. In an e-mail addressed to Guy Forget and Gilles Moretton, Osaka indicated using the opportunity of this fortnight to protest against a “a system that forces athletes to speak out to the press regardless of the circumstances, including when they are in pain and their mental health is at risk. “

The Japanese woman announces in the same message that she intends to invest in “reform“this law of circuits and work”with the governing bodies of tennis to find the best possible compromise. “ This boycott may therefore not continue after Roland-Garros. Osaka had previously used his status as a star on the tour to protest police violence against African Americans during the last US Open.