BEVERLY HILLS, June 01, (THEWILL) – Global sportswear manufacturer Nike and a few other major brands have come out in support of tennis star Naomi Osaka in the aftermath of her decision to withdraw from the ongoing Roland Garros in France.
THEWILL reported that Osaka’s decision to pull out of the competition came after the tournament organisers fined her $15,000 for not attending a mandatory post-match Press conference after her first round match on Sunday, where she defeated the Romanian, Patricia Maria Tig.
Last Wednesday, Osaka cited mental health reasons when she announced on Twitter that she would not participate in any Press conferences at the French Open and was willing to pay the fines that her decision attracted.
However, when Roland-Garros said in a statement, that was jointly signed by all the Slams, after she had been fined $15,000, that Osaka had failed to honor her contractual media obligations and was fined under the tournament’s Code of Conduct reminded her that “rules should apply equally to all players” with a warning of suspension, Osaka withdrew from Paris.
She issued a statement via social media announcing her subsequent decision to withdraw, and revealed that she had “suffered long bouts of depression” since winning her first Grand Slam title in 2018 and was withdrawing to avoid being a distraction from the essence of the Open.
Jumping in her support on Monday, Nike, who signed a sponsorship deal with Osaka in 2019, applauded the athlete for opening up about her struggle with depression, in a statement that read: “Our thoughts are with Naomi. We support her and recognize her courage in sharing her own mental health experience.”
MasterCard, the multinational financial services corporation, was another sponsor that publicly stood by Osaka. Their statement said: “Naomi Osaka’s decision reminds us all how important it is to prioritize personal health and well-being. We support her and admire her courage to address important issues, both on and off the court.”
In 2019 also, Osaka became the first number one tennis player to join Mastercard’s roster of global ambassadors.
Support also came from her place of birth, Japan, where Nissin Foods, a local company known for its instant noodles, also released a message of solidarity, that read: “We pray for Ms Naomi Osaka’s earliest recovery, and wish her continued success.”v
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
