Osaka withdraws from French Open

[RoryN]

"Do the media interviews, or you'll be fined and sanctioned. Tournament rules."

"Fair enough. Then, I don't want to be in the tournament. Byeeeeeee."

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Can't say I blame her. Both American and foreign interviewers ask some of the most inane questions when it comes to female tennis athletes. I'm sure she'll be eviscerated for taking a stand, though.

 

[LukSkyFokker]

That's a dicey one. Is she under contract by any of her sponsors to play?

 

[RoryN]

That's a dicey one. Is she under contract by any of her sponsors to play?

Yeah.

If so, I'd imagine she needs to square up with them now.

 

[LukSkyFokker]

Yeah.

If so, I'd imagine she needs to square up with them now.

It could one of those "play in xxxx number of tourneys in 2021" types of deal.

 

[Sean]

Mark Steel
@mrmarksteel
·
1m
It would make sense to kick Naomi Osaka out of a tournament for saying she won’t do press interviews, if it was a press interview tournament, in which the best press interview was the winner. That must be what the tennis authorities think it is, it’s an easy mistake.

 

[IrezumiKiss]

Yeah.

If so, I'd imagine she needs to square up with them now.

Not that she's invincible, but I'd say the money she brings to the table just showing up might be good enough leverage to shake the system.

Good for her. She's the game's future.

 

[Pairaclities]

Not that she's invincible, but I'd say the money she brings to the table just showing up might be good enough leverage to shake the system.

Good for her. She's the game's future.

I agree, she is there to play tennis. If she doesn’t want to be questioned by a group of shit for brains reporters then she should have that choice.

Hopefully this is a game changer in all sports.

 

[Dribble]

"I'm just here not to be fined".

I was listening to a segment on NPR about this...funny...the majority of the women support her...the men don't. That's because the media asks different types of questions based on your sex and the women interviewed highlighted this with specific examples...the men just said she knew what was expected.

She should walk away. She has made enough she can live comfortably for the rest of her life. She won't change a system that doesn't care.

 

[OldJourno]

Mark Steel
@mrmarksteel
·
1m
It would make sense to kick Naomi Osaka out of a tournament for saying she won’t do press interviews, if it was a press interview tournament, in which the best press interview was the winner. That must be what the tennis authorities think it is, it’s an easy mistake.

This is similar to Beast Mode (can't remember the dude's name, but he was one hell of a running back) refusing interviews and being fined $100,000 or something like that by the NFL.
At that point, teammate Richard Sherman asked, in a very funny way, if the NFL was going to pay him $100,000 to do interviews.

 

[IrezumiKiss]

This is similar to Beast Mode (can't remember the dude's name, but he was one hell of a running back)

Marshawn Lynch.

dude. how can you have been a journalist, be on the free internet, then recognize and appreciate a prominent football player's skills and not remember their name?

https://media4.giphy.com/media/MxmkWBxRcttmZ3IHbC/giphy.gif

 

[ishtat]

There have been a lot of media reports in the past couple of days trashing Osaka for her stand, but who remembers the media interviews of Martina Hingis and Jelena Dokic when they were 15 or so - kids. Those interviews were viscious, intimidating, and way over the top. (Both retired prematurely) Osaka's stand is long overdue.

I remember a journalist friend of mine who said at the time that Osaka's interview after her first US open win was "wonderful." Why? because she was so upset by the jeering crowd, (her opponents supporters) and the blatant bias of the tournament chief towards the loser. "That sort of emotion, just gold for us," (the media) he said.

But even more overdue is some sort of curb on an 'entitled' media. Print, Television, and on the internet (social media) all need to be accountable to some standards - privacy and truth would be good starting points.

Can you imagine what Osaka's social media feed has been like the past few months - A black Asian/American who supported George Floyd.

 

[nowisthetime]

Marshawn Lynch.

dude. how can you have been a journalist, be on the free internet, then recognize and appreciate a prominent football player's skills and not remember their name?

https://media4.giphy.com/media/MxmkWBxRcttmZ3IHbC/giphy.gif

Dementia kicking in?

 

[RoryN]

2018 interview that speaks volumes:

https://mobile.twitter.com/abcnews4...6?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^tweet

Some Conservatives (of course) jumped on her, but a few of them shut their yaps after watching this. This woman is obviously trying to do some self-care - good for her.

Nike has her back, at least:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/01/business/naomi-osaka-nike-sponsors/index.html

 

[RoryN]

Exits Wimbledon, too...

 

[Dribble]

Exits Wimbledon, too...

So did Nadel. (Sp?) He did it for physical reasons...she did it for mental reasons. Wanna take bets who supports one but not the other?

 

[RoryN]

So did Nadel. (Sp?) He did it for physical reasons...she did it for mental reasons. Wanna take bets who supports one but not the other?

Yeah, no kidding. Exactly.

 

[suestevenson143]

This is very interesting

 

[Earthlyone]

First world problems eh! what a spoilt brat.

 

[Dribble]

Imagine that...Serena had to withdraw today due to an injury. Did she speak to reporters afterward? Nope. But will she be fined too? Nope.

 

[KeithD]

Imagine that...Serena had to withdraw today due to an injury. Did she speak to reporters afterward? Nope. But will she be fined too? Nope.

Serena went to the hospital with a leg injury after today's withdrawal. Osaka said in advance that she wasn't going to do interviews. Serena has cut interviews short before, without being fined. Today, however, isn't a good comparison for anything. Dip further into the past to make your point, but you still won't find a comparison, I don't think. You won't find Serena saying up front she won't do interviews as Osaka did.

 

[colddiesel]

I have noticed that Williams is routinely referred to as Serena by the press. but that Naomi is routinely Osaka. Any reasons for that?

I think they are both great personalities and wish that the sport never inflicted any interviews from any player on the public.

 

[IrezumiKiss]

I have noticed that Williams is routinely referred to as Serena by the press. but that Naomi is routinely Osaka. Any reasons for that?

Contemporary social mnemonics at play, I reckon. Whether press or general civilian small talk, reference to someone (of status) by name is usually spoken with what makes them the most recognizable. "Serena" is not an uncommon name, but in the sports world, it's immediately known who you're referring to. "Naomi" is not uncommon either, but if you say "Osaka," it's like, bam. In her case, the surname is unique in her profession and then it's an immediate recognition.

A good example...when's the last time you heard Alex Rodriguez' full name instead of "A-Rod?" Same with LeBron instead of just "James."

 

[FataMorgana]

I have noticed that Williams is routinely referred to as Serena by the press. but that Naomi is routinely Osaka. Any reasons for that?

I think they are both great personalities and wish that the sport never inflicted any interviews from any player on the public.

Probably from the old days when both sisters were playing to avoid mix up?

 

[Dribble]

Serena went to the hospital with a leg injury after today's withdrawal. Osaka said in advance that she wasn't going to do interviews. Serena has cut interviews short before, without being fined. Today, however, isn't a good comparison for anything. Dip further into the past to make your point, but you still won't find a comparison, I don't think. You won't find Serena saying up front she won't do interviews as Osaka did.

Immaterial. She walked off the court under her own power. She was asked for an interview. She refused. This is THE REASON the French Open gave for the penalty. It was THE REASON there was a joint statement from ALL majors. Enforce the REASON or don't.

 

[colddiesel]

Immaterial. She walked off the court under her own power. She was asked for an interview. She refused. This is THE REASON the French Open gave for the penalty. It was THE REASON there was a joint statement from ALL majors. Enforce the REASON or don't.

I suspect that you may be wrong. Players only have to be interviewed by the press after a match is completed and there are contractual exceptions for injuries. And, Miss Williams has shown in the past that she knows the rules inside out.

And Irezum K Here on the deserts edge in OZ I had never heard of this fella Alex Rodriguez, but I did recognize the name of Lebron James, though at first I thought he played football (note to self, must get out more)

[B]Fata - sorry, Miss Morgana; I liked it at Wimbledon when all the females were 'ladies,' and were always called Miss or Mrs by the umpires - more genteel times.