For the vice-president of Tennis Canada and director of the National Bank Open, Eugène Lapierre, Naomi Osaka wanted to provoke a discussion on a subject that made her uncomfortable and for that, we must take it seriously.
It’s a bold decision by one of the most refreshing athletes in tennis. I have sometimes seen reporters asking shocking questions, the athletes are really angry, I have seen intimidation in interview rooms. How can we handle this thing? I do not know. She brought something interesting to improve the process. It should not be taken lightly, it is necessary to have the discussion.
Former tennis player Valérie Tétreault, now Director of Communications at Tennis Canada, believes on the contrary that it is necessary to face up to her media responsibilities and reminds that professional tennis accommodates players well.
If all the players in her position started doing that, the amateurs would pay the price, she says. They already have the right to wait 30 minutes before their press conference, while there are other sports where you are not allowed to have that time. The compromise still works well, the players must realize that we are already making compromises.
Several tennis players have spoken on the subject at Roland Garros and also believe that responding to journalists is part of their job. This is the case of world number one Ashleigh Barty and Rafael Nadal, favorite to win the title for the 14th time in Paris.
The press is part of the job. We know what we’re getting into as a professional tennis player
, a this Barty.
Without the press, without the people who travel to write about us, we wouldn’t be the athletes we are today. We wouldn’t have the same recognition, the same popularity. The media are an important part of our sport
, according to Rafael Nadal.
Rafael Nadal has won the French Open 13 times
Photo : Getty Images / Clive Brunskill
The president of the French Tennis Federation, Gilles Moretton, did not mince his words to react to the announcement of Osaka, even going so far as to accuse him of harming the sport. Eugène Lapierre, he does not see a negative for tennis, quite the contrary.
It tells me that tennis has a major importance around the world, the public follows it more and more. His statement is not bad news for the sport. Naomi threw a bomb that will stimulate media interest even more!
Former Olympic athlete Jean-Luc Brassard greets those who do not remain silent. He has previously lectured to help athletes get ready to speak to the media at the Olympics, having learned a lot from his experience at the Nagano Games as a standard bearer at the Opening Ceremony. He offered them a game plan if some wanted to speak on a more sensitive subject.
There are as many journalists as there are athletes at the Games. You make a dynamite statement before the Games and there are going to be echoes all over the world, he explains. What I tell them is, “Try to focus on your part, try to get a medal and speak afterwards. You will attract journalists interested in your words.” I wish Osaka that she does a press conference after the tournament and that she explains herself.
Jean-Luc Brassard, flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the Nagano Olympic Games (Photo: The Canadian Press / Paul Chiasson)
Photo: Radio-Canada
The position of the highest paid female athlete in the world resonates in other sports, such as hockey. Groupe CH vice-president of public affairs and communications Paul Wilson reposted Osaka’s post on Twitter and says he’s currently having discussions about the Canadiens’ press conferences, especially after Jonathan Drouin decided to take time off from the team for personal reasons.
The gesture was powerful on Osaka’s part. We have been experiencing this daily since the start of the pandemic. Journalists scrutinize every piece of news. A player, when things are less well, journalists will scratch the sore, social networks get into them, it’s really intense. Is there a way to review the way we do this? It’s an interesting debate.
The WTA said in a statement that it was ready to engage in dialogue with Osaka (and all players) to discuss other possible approaches. It remains to be seen now what solutions will be taken by the association.
