French Open defends ‘pragmatic’ stance in Naomi Osaka dealings
French Open organizers stated they took a “pragmatic” method of their dealings with four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka earlier within the match, insisting they tried to have interaction along with her a number of instances earlier than she determined to withdraw from the clay-court Grand Slam.
Osaka withdrew from Roland Garros after she was fined USD 15,000 for skipping the postmatch information convention after her first-round victory on the French Open. She stated she skilled nervousness earlier than chatting with the media and revealed she suffered bouts of melancholy.
“We actually tried to have interaction with Naomi a number of instances, a number of methods, together with on the observe courts, together with in writing,” stated Amelie Oudea-Castera, the French tennis federation director basic.
Oudea-Castera stated organizers had additionally written to Osaka earlier than all 4 Grand Slam tournaments threatened her with attainable additional punishment — together with disqualification or suspension — to clarify to her the attainable penalties of her intention of not talking with journalists.
“So we needed to remind the principles of the sport,” Oudea-Castera stated through the match’s closing press convention.
“There’s a particular guide explaining that. And whenever you frequently default your obligations with out giving particular explanations particularly, you expose your self to a default or extra everlasting sanction. We needed her to know as a result of it was a solution to defend her to clarify that to her.”
Tennis gamers are required to attend information conferences if requested to take action. They face a most high-quality of USD 20,000 in the event that they violate the principles.
“On the USD 15,000 high-quality, you seen we didn’t need to put that high-quality on the most,” stated Oudea-Castera.
“On function we solely needed to be at 15 as a result of we needed to ship a message that we would not go to a default immediately. We needed to have a progressive escalation ought to she proceed to not decide to her obligations.”
Oudea-Castera nevertheless admitted that organizers “can do higher” in coping with gamers’ psychological well being points, including that every one 4 Grand Slams will “take the initiative on the matter collectively.”
French Open organizers stated they “took care” of Osaka since her withdrawal and French tennis federation president Gilles Moretton stated former French participant Nathalie Dechy obtained a constructive replace from her.
“She’s in Florida, having relaxation with the household. That is an important factor for us,” Moretton stated.