"I respect Naomi Osaka... but it's just to remain in the talk" - When Belinda Bencic questioned Japanese's controversial media boycott
Belinda Bencic usually stays away from controversies, but during the 2021 French Open, she raised eyebrows by questioning Naomi Osaka's media boycott. Her remarks stirred quite a debate in the tennis world.
Osaka found herself in conflict with Roland-Garros officials in 2021 when she announced her decision to skip press conferences during the tournament. She cited her mental health as the reason behind the move.
The Japanese star began her campaign against Patricia Maria Tig and was set to face Ana Bogdan in the second round, but withdrew abruptly. This came after she was fined $15,000 and warned of expulsion for boycotting media duties.
Many tennis stars shared mixed reactions to Naomi Osaka's decision, but Bencic was clear with her stance. While she respected the four-time Grand Slam champion's perspective, she admitted she couldn't fully appreciate the move.
"I respect Naomi's decision. But media is part of the job and it contributes to a worldwide publicity we have and we get paid very well," the Swiss told the press at the 2021 French Open.
"Naomi does a lot of good things. On the other hand, I feel like sometimes it's just about to remain in the talk," she added further.
Naomi Osaka: "The press conference format itself is out of date and in great need of a refresh"
Two months after the French Open controversy, Naomi Osaka clarified her decision in an op-ed for Time's Olympic Preview. She expressed that the press conference format felt outdated and envisioned a more player-friendly approach.
"In my opinion (and I want to say that this is just my opinion and not that of every tennis player on tour)," she wrote. "The press-conference format itself is out of date and in great need of a refresh. I believe that we can make it better, more interesting and more enjoyable for each side. Less subject vs. object; more peer-to-peer."
The four-time Grand Slam champion suggested solutions like allowing athletes occasional mental health breaks from media scrutiny without facing strict sanctions. She believed this would promote a healthier work-life balance.
"Perhaps we should give athletes the right to take a mental break from media scrutiny on a rare occasion without being subject to strict sanctions," Naomi Osaka wrote.
She continued:
"In any other line of work, you would be forgiven for taking a personal day here and there, so long as it’s not habitual. You wouldn’t have to divulge your most personal symptoms to your employer; there would likely be HR measures protecting at least some level of privacy."
Since then, Osaka's relationship with the media has improved, and there have been no further issues between her and the press.