Golf star Rory McIlroy showed his support for Naomi Osaka after she opened up about her mental health issues.
Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam winner, crashed at the US Open last week when she lost to 18-year-old Leylah Fernandez.
Osaka had to hold back tears after losing at the US Open
The 23-year-old was the defending champion, but has struggled in 2021 and has previously spoken of suffering from depression and anxiety.
She withdrew from the French Open due to her mental health and the issues surrounding her as she was forced to hold press conferences.
Osaka also withdrew from Wimbledon, but returned to play in the Olympics and the US Open.
After losing to the teenager, Osaka said she would take a break from tennis and admitted that she did not know when she would play her next match.
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Osaka won’t defend her US Open title after losing to teenager
She said: “I think I’m going to take a break from playing for a while.
How am I saying this? I feel like because of me recently, when I win, I don’t feel happy. I feel more like a relief. And then when I lose, I feel very sad. I don’t think that’s normal. I really didn’t want to cry.
McIlroy has previously opened up about how he has struggled with his mental health in the past and showed his support for what’s going on in Osaka.
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McIlroy understood what Osaka was going through
He told Sky Sports: “I have tried so hard and talked a lot about this in 2019 about separating who I am as a golfer and who I am as a person and trying not to let that define me, and it seems like Naomi is passing in the minute is what same.
“How can I play tennis and enjoy it and not let the results define who I am? I think that’s what he’s going through right now and I think everyone should give him time to realize that.
“She seems like a very smart girl, and hopefully she will be able to do it and come back and start enjoying the game like when she picked up the racket as a child.”
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