Headlines in the tennis world were recently made by one of the game’s brightest superstars, Naomi Osaka, when she withdrew from both the French Open and Wimbledon. She cited a need to prioritize mental health as the reason for the time off.
This move was met with immense criticism from many tennis fans and even fellow competitors. She was fined for refusing to meet with the media and berated by sportscasters around the world. She returned to competition for the Olympics, representing her home nation of Japan and was bestowed with the honor of lighting the torch at the opening ceremony. However, the world’s #2 ranked player disappointingly fell in the 3rd round losing in straight sets to the eventual runner-up Marketa Vondrousova.
Shortly after the tournament, Osaka announced that she would be taking some more time off from tennis, although she is slated to return as summer concludes when she will headline the U.S. Open in a few weeks time. With the immaculate spotlight of the year’s final major tennis event, Osaka will be taking the court in NYC. After examining the last few months for Osaka, it is apparent that she could use a prolonged break from tennis. Despite that apparent need, she will nevertheless take the court for the U.S. Open and defend her title.
Last year, Osaka defeated Victoria Azarenka in straight sets to win her 4th major; however, since then she has endured a series of mental health issues and lackluster performances. After enduring a worldwide pandemic and persevering through unprecedented times, could it be possible that the world should be more understanding of Naomi Osaka’s struggles?
Many observers argue that Osaka is paid millions and should be able to perform at the highest level, regardless of the impact to her mental health. However, it is evident that external factors including the COVID pandemic have taken a toll on her. Would it be possible that taking a 4 month break from tennis would serve her best? Even if she makes an impressive run at back to back U.S. Open titles and wins it, her long-term mental health could be severely damaged and lead to her suffering a massive setback.
It is uncommon for athletes at the top of their respective sports to take a break right before a major tournament, but it might be the right move. The first major event of 2022 comes in February, with the Australian Open starting the year off. If Osaka focuses on restoring her mental health for a prolonged period of time and takes a break from tennis until then, it could refuel her career. She could start back up her training in December and ramp up her regime in January, in preparation for the Australian Open. Hopefully her mental health would be improved this time and she would be in great shape for a successful season.
The reality is, it would be very tough for Osaka to skip out on the U.S. Open and choose this route. Taking time off of tennis and passing on one more major would clearly be the best long-term decision for her. But, many “fans” and observers still aren’t taking mental health struggles seriously. After withdrawing from the French Open, she stated “In any other line of work, you would be forgiven for taking a personal day here and there, so long as it’s not habitual. You wouldn’t have to divulge your most personal symptoms to your employer … I felt under a great amount of pressure to disclose my symptoms — frankly because the press and the tournament did not believe me.” Osaka’s message further perpetuates the notion that the press and many involved with elite level tennis still didn’t respect the complexity or accept the reality of her mental health issues.
Many people see the end product or performances of Osaka on the court, but don’t see the elite preparation, perseverance, and mental toughness needed in order for her to succeed. The struggles, low points, and adversity can take a toll on anyone, whether you see it or not. It is evident that Naomi Osaka is struggling. In regards to her decision to skip press conferences at major tournaments, she spoke bravely admitting that “The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since the U.S. Open in 2018, and I have had a really hard time coping with that. So here in Paris, I was already feeling vulnerable and anxious, so I thought it was better to exercise self-care and skip the press conferences.” This further exemplifies the importance of self-care and prioritizing mental health, even as a top athlete in the world.
However, it is not just elite level athletes such as Naomi Osaka facing mental health challenges. Anyone can be susceptible to dealing with these struggles and the importance of maintaining sufficient mental health cannot be undermined. At Skidmore College, we can all support each other and check in on one another regardless of our own personal interests and roles on campus.