Naomi Osaka stands up for her mental health

Vendors Russ Adams, John Hagan and Donald Morris chat with Executive Assistant Patrick Edwards.

Patrick: Today we’re talking Naomi Osaka, a 23-year-old former No. 1 women’s tennis player in the world, who has recently been slammed with controversy in the media. There’re a few layers with all of this, so let’s start peeling— Don?

Donald: Well, first off, y’all know I’m a female athlete fan. And, of course, it’s not just the overall beauty of the women in general; it’s also the guile, the agility, the less-focusedon-power game they give us. Naomi Osaka is the first Asian player—man or female—to hold the top ranking in singles. She’s a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, and is the reigning champion at the US Open and the Australian Open.

Patrick: And let’s not forget her first two Grand Slam titles were back-to-back. The first woman to do that since Serena Williams in 2015.

Donald: That’s right. And, in 2018, one of her Grand Slam wins was over Serena Williams. Not an easy task.

Russ: In regard to the controversy, I am Team Naomi. Naomi didn’t want to be obligated to speak to the media pre- and post-game, so she declined the option to “media” for the upcoming French Open. The world went crazy because Naomi was more willing to lose cash on fines than speak to the media.

John: She didn’t want to keep giving them that power.

Patrick: That and her social anxiety. Yeah, man, she had—shoot, has—her own mental health issues to deal with. And sitting in front of the media answering questions that flip the athlete’s thoughts wouldn’t help anything. One of Naomi’s most telling quotes is one that applies to everyone living. I wrote this one down. So, it goes: “…asked questions that bring doubt to our minds and I’m just not going to subject myself to the people that doubt me.”

Donald: Yeah, it does seem as if she’s attempting to assert her power in the situation. We know how the media like to do things: They grab—and maintain—the power in the relationship.

John: Very true, Don. And for Naomi to stand up to them and, essentially, say “I am more important to me than I will ever be to anyone else,” is more powerful than anything.

Russ: For her to withdraw from the 2021 French Open at Roland Garris is huge.

Patrick: It is, man. Not only could it possibly re-open the conversation in regard to the power balance between athletes and those in corporate, but it also opens up the mental health discussion. Not only for athletes, but for every person living.

Russ: I know some folks dealing with mental issues—not pretty. So, to have someone add fire to the griddle doesn’t help, right? Donald: Right.

John: The good thing about all of this is that it seems as if most are with her. Celebrities are crawling out of the woodwork giving her major support in this crusade.

Patrick: It has become a crusade, hasn’t it?

Donald: According to Oxford Languages—yes, I just looked it up—a crusade is a vigorous campaign for social, political, or religious change—so, yeah, this is a definite crusade.

Russ: A crusade for mental health.

Patrick: Well, fellas, I can tell you’re as interested as I am how this will turn out. And to you folks out there, let us know what you all are thinking. Send an e-mail with your thoughts to: pedwards@streetwise.org