The athlete, 23, decided to exit the Grand Slam tournament on Monday, May 31, following a dispute with organizers within her participation in press conferences throughout the occasion.
The tennis star, who's currently ranked No. 2 in the world, said on Wednesday, May 26, she would not take part in post-game news seminars to safeguard her mental wellness . In hours, the French Open's tournament referee fined her $15,000, and leaders of the four Grand Slam tournaments threatened to expel her out of the event if she continued her boycott.
The day after winning her first-round match on Sunday, May 30, Osaka declared that she was taking herself out of emptiness.
"This is not a situation I ever imagined or intended when I posted a couple days back," she wrote via Instagram. "I think now the best thing to the tournament, the other players along with my well-being is that I draw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris. I never wanted to become a diversion and I accept that my time wasn't perfect and my message could have been clearer."
The prior Vogue cover star added that her first statement wasn't to meant to"trivialize mental health," particularly because she herself has"endured long bouts since of depression" because competing in the 2018 U.S. Open, where she conquered Serena Williams to win her first Grand Slam.
This success was famously marred from the audience, who began booing during the trophy ceremony.
"I felt a bit sad since I was not really sure if they were booing at me if it wasn't the outcome they wanted," Osaka told the Today series at the moment. "And then I also could sympathize because I have been a fan of Serena my entire life and I understood how badly the audience wanted her to win."
Before her withdrawal on Monday, the Japanese-born celebrity had not previously revealed her struggle with depression.
"Anyone that knows me know I'm introverted, and anybody who has seen me at the championships will notice that I am frequently wearing headphones as which helps dull my social stress," she continued in her post. "Though the tennis media has ever been kind to me (and I wan na na apologize especially to all of the trendy journalists that I may have hurt), I am not a natural public speaker and also get massive waves of anxiety until I talk to the world's media."
She completed by announcing that she is likely to"take some time away in the courtroom right now," adding that she wishes to continue the conversation about players' mental wellbeing at a subsequent date.
"When the time is right I really want to work with the Tour to go over ways we could make things better for the players, press and fans," she wrote. "Anyways hope you're all doing well and staying safe, adore you guys I'll see you when I visit you"
