A tearful Naomi Osaka briefly left a press conference in Cincinnati on Monday after her relationship with the journalists was put under the spotlight by a reporter who accused her of using the media when it suits her.
Osaka has lately had a strained relationship with sections of the media, saying her mental health is adversely impacted by certain lines of questioning.
Hence on Monday when a local Cincinnati reporter at the Western and Southern Open suggested that Osaka benefits from her huge media profile but does not like speaking to reporters, the world number two teared up as she tried to formulate an answer.
"When you say I'm not crazy about dealing with you guys, what does that refer to?" asked Osaka, who is of Japanese-Haitian heritage.
"Ever since I was younger, I have had a lot of media interest on me, and I think it's because of my background as well.
"I can't really help that there are some things that I tweet or some things that I say that kind of create a lot of news articles or things like that... but I would also say I'm not really sure how to balance the two. Like I'm figuring it out at the same time as you are, I would say."
During the exchange, she wiped away tears and pulled her visor over her eyes to hide her face before the moderator called for a pause to proceedings.
Osaka left the room briefly but returned to complete the news conference after regaining her composure.
The exchange highlighted the challenges Osaka faces as one of the world's most famous athletes.
In the lead up to this year's French Open in May, Osaka said she would be boycotting the obligatory post-match news conferences at the claycourt major to protect her mental health. The decision led to a backlash from Grand Slam tournament organisers, who fined her and threatened to ban her from the majors if she refused to speak to the media.
The standoff not only led to Osaka revealing that she has struggled to cope with depression for a number of years but it also prompted her to pull out from Roland Garros and Wimbledon for the sake of her mental well-being.
After losing early at the Tokyo Games, where she was given the honour of lighting the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony, she admitted she struggled to cope with the huge pressure and expectation placed on her.
Osaka's agent Stuart Duguid condemned the reporter's line of questioning on Monday in a written statement provided to Reuters.
"The bully at the Cincinnati Enquirer is the epitome of why player/media relations are so fraught right now," said Duguid.
"Everyone on that Zoom will agree that his tone was all wrong and his sole purpose was to intimidate. Really appalling behavior," he said.
"And this insinuation that Naomi owes her off court success to the media is a myth – don't be so self-indulgent."
The reporter did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The 23-year-old Japanese player has used her platform to call attention to mental health issues and said she has felt supported by her fellow athletes.
"The biggest eye opener was going to the Olympics and having other athletes come up to me and say they were really glad that I did what I did," she said.
"I'm proud of what I did and I think that it was something that needed to be done."
Reuters
Tue Aug 17 2021
![Osaka leaves press conference in tears Osaka leaves press conference in tears](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-08/61629148341_naomiosaka.jpg)
Naomi Osaka of Japan reacts during her third round match against Marketa Vondrousova of Czech Republic REUTERS/Mike Segar
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp
Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Wang Negara (PAC) memberi tempoh tiga bulan kepada Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia (HRD Corp) untuk mengemukakan laporan tindakan susulan terhadap syor jawatankuasa itu.
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.
Pakistan sahkan 4 warganya terbunuh di Oman
Pakistan berkata pada Selasa empat warganya terbunuh dalam insiden tembakan pada malam Isnin berhampiran ibu negara Oman, Muscat.
Lima terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh
Sekurang-kurangnya empat orang terbunuh dan puluhan lagi cedera dalam pertempuran antara pelajar yang memprotes sistem kuota dalam pekerjaan sektor awam dan polis di pelbagai bahagian Bangladesh pada Selasa.
Kerajaan cadang perkenal pembiayaan swasta
Kerajaan menyasarkan untuk memperkenalkan pembiayaan swasta alternatif bagi memastikan kemampanan kewangan program sektor air, sekali gus mengurangkan kebergantungan pada perbelanjaan kerajaan dan mengukuhkan daya tahan.
Saya tak fitnah Guan Eng, cuma jelaskan siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin
Presiden Bersatu Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur hari ini bahawa beliau tidak memfitnah Lim Guan Eng berhubung isu pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary
KPT alu-alukan dapatan, cadangan PAC - Zambry
Ini termasuklah cadangan pelaksanaan Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024 kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (KPT).
![Tenis Terbuka Australia: Djokovic berang provokasi 'sang pengecut'! Tenis Terbuka Australia: Djokovic berang provokasi 'sang pengecut'!](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/71705562654_TBDjokovicjpg.jpg)
Tenis Terbuka Australia: Djokovic berang provokasi 'sang pengecut'!
Djokovic sedikit terusik dengan kata-kata nista yang seakan cuba untuk merapuhkan semangat berkobar-kobar juara 10 kali kejohanan itu.
![Tenis Terbuka AS: Caroline Wozniacki lakar kejutan benam Petra Kvitova Tenis Terbuka AS: Caroline Wozniacki lakar kejutan benam Petra Kvitova](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-08/81693466666_carolinewozniacki.jpg)
Tenis Terbuka AS: Caroline Wozniacki lakar kejutan benam Petra Kvitova
Wozniacki menewaskan pemain pilihan ke-11, Petra Kvitova 7-5, 7-6 (5).
![Tenis Terbuka AS: Murray lakar kemenangan ke-200 saingan Grand Slam Tenis Terbuka AS: Murray lakar kemenangan ke-200 saingan Grand Slam](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2017-02/41486698518_AndyMurray.jpg)
Tenis Terbuka AS: Murray lakar kemenangan ke-200 saingan Grand Slam
Andy Murray memenangi perlawanan grand slam yang ke-200 dengan kemenangan tiga set ke atas wakil Perancis, Corentin Moutet, di Terbuka AS.
![Wimbledon: Novak Djokovic menyamai rekod separuh akhir Roger Federer Wimbledon: Novak Djokovic menyamai rekod separuh akhir Roger Federer](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-07/51689124778_NovakDjokovic.jpg)
Wimbledon: Novak Djokovic menyamai rekod separuh akhir Roger Federer
Kemenangan itu membawanya mara ke separuh akhir pada kejohanan utama buat kali ke-46 dan kemenangan di Wimbledon kepada 33 perlawanan.
![Wimbledon naikkan hadiah kemenangan GBP44.7 juta Wimbledon naikkan hadiah kemenangan GBP44.7 juta](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-06/81686887620_ElenaRybakina.jpg)
Wimbledon naikkan hadiah kemenangan GBP44.7 juta
Wang yang ditawarkan tahun ini meningkat 11.2 peratus berbanding pada 2022 dan 17.1 peratus pada kejohanan prapandemik 2019.
![Serena Williams umum hamil anak kedua Serena Williams umum hamil anak kedua](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-05/51683024157_SerenaWilliams.jpg)
Serena Williams umum hamil anak kedua
Juara Grand Slam 23 kali itu berkata kepada media bahawa "tiga orang" hadir di karpet merah ketika tiba bersama suaminya, Alexis Ohanian.
![Tenis Terbuka Australia: Djokovic rasa amat disayangi, mulakan misi cipta sejarah Tenis Terbuka Australia: Djokovic rasa amat disayangi, mulakan misi cipta sejarah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-01/81674013940_RobertoCarballes.jpg)
Tenis Terbuka Australia: Djokovic rasa amat disayangi, mulakan misi cipta sejarah
Novak Djokovic memulakan misinya di Melbourne untuk menyamai rekod 22 gelaran grand slam milik Rafael Nadal.
![Terbuka Australia: Kepulangan Djokovic baik untuk tenis, kata Nadal Terbuka Australia: Kepulangan Djokovic baik untuk tenis, kata Nadal](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-05/61653869370_NovakDjokovic.jpg)
Terbuka Australia: Kepulangan Djokovic baik untuk tenis, kata Nadal
Djokovic akan beraksi dalam Kejohanan Antarabangsa Adelaide sebelum menyertai saingan grand slam pertama bagi 2023 itu pada 16 Jan.
![Tenis Final ATP: Taylor Fritz kejutkan Nadal di peringkat kumpulan Tenis Final ATP: Taylor Fritz kejutkan Nadal di peringkat kumpulan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-11/71668401390_TaylorFritzTennis.jpg)
Tenis Final ATP: Taylor Fritz kejutkan Nadal di peringkat kumpulan
Fritz memuktamadkan kemenangannya dengan satu lagi persembahan servis yang dominan untuk mencipta kemenangan kedua ke atas Nadal.
![Terbuka AS: Swiatek atasi Jabeur untuk raih gelaran grand slam ketiga Terbuka AS: Swiatek atasi Jabeur untuk raih gelaran grand slam ketiga](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-09/41662866508_IgaSwiatek.jpg)
Terbuka AS: Swiatek atasi Jabeur untuk raih gelaran grand slam ketiga
Dia kemudian memenangi 37 perlawanan berturut-turut, termasuk ketika memenangi Terbuka Perancis buat kali kedua.