With relatively few words, she said a lot as she bowed out of the French Open on her terms, reflecting the growing empowerment of athletes.
Thirteen sentences. That’s all we got from Naomi Osaka as she bowed out of the French Open on Monday after causing a ruckus over her plan to skip post-match news conferences. She did not speak those sentences. They were posted on her Instagram account. Nor did she provide anything like deep explanation. A global icon at age 23, Osaka left unclear when she would return to the women’s tour. She revealed for the first time that she had struggled with depression since beating Serena Williams in a controversy-cloaked final at the United States Open in 2018. Thirteen sentences. That was all she needed to rock the sports world and to provide another lesson in the increasing power of athletes to own their message and set their terms. She waded briefly into the water, made a splash and stepped away. Using social media posts, Osaka called out one of the most traditional practices in major sports: the obligatory news conference, vital to reporters seeking insight for their stories, but long regarded by many elite athletes as a plank walk. After monumental wins and difficult losses, Osaka has giggled and reflected through news conferences and also dissolved into tears. In Paris, she said she wanted nothing to do with the gatherings because they had exacted a steep emotional toll. So in her slim social media posts she sent a message with significant weight: The days of the Grand Slam tournaments and the huge media machine behind them holding all of the clout are done. In a predominantly white, ritual-bound sport, a smooth-stroking young woman of Black and Asian decent, her confidence still evolving on and off the court, holds the power. Get used to it. Intentionally or not, Osaka stands at the leading edge of a broad, transformational movement in athlete empowerment. What she does with this rolewill say a great deal about the power shift, for better or worse. This much is clear. By walking away from the French Open as she did, Osaka became an obsession in the sports world and far beyond. Pundits, fans, fellow players and people who typically care little about athletes are analyzing her motivations. They worry about her future in tennis and, of course, her mental health. They project what they want onto her and argue accordingly.
