Players Respect Naomi Osaka’s Press Conference Boycott, But They Wouldn’t Do It

A big topic Friday during media day at the French Open was Naomi Osaka startling announcement that she will boycott press conferences at the upcoming Slam.

Players support Osaka’s decision but none of those asked today sound like they would do the same.

Ash Barty won’t be boycotting any pressers:

I think in my opinion press is kind of part of the job. We know what we sign up for as professional tennis players. I can’t really comment on what Naomi is feeling or her decisions she makes.

At times press conference are hard of course but it’s also not something that bothers me. I’ve never had problems answering questions or being completely honest with you guys. It’s not something that’s ever fazed me too much. And, you know, certainly doesn’t for me personally, doesn’t keep me up at night what I say and hear or what you guys ask me. So I try and make it a little bit lighter and have a bit of fun with you guys.

For me it’s a little bit different but I can’t comment on her personally for what she’s going through, so I suppose you’ll have to ask her that next time you chat to her.

Iga Swiatek agrees that pressers are part of the job:

I personally feel that this is part of the job. And of course, you know, talking to press after we lost, it’s not the most enjoyable thing to do. But it’s good to find the balance and find the distance to all of that.

You know, as soon as I don’t have so many media obligations, I’m okay with it, but I think it’s just important to have people around you who are going to be that kind of wall that’s gonna separate you from, I don’t know, hate or something.

It’s good to be aware of that, but for sure, you know, sometimes we are in the spotlight and everybody is looking at us. It may be hard, but I feel like with proper kind of support and with distance and, you know, with balance it’s, you know, part of the job.

I feel that media is really important as well because they are giving us, you are giving us a platform to, you know, talk about our lives and our perspective. And it’s also important because not everybody is a professional athlete and not everybody knows what we are dealing with on court. It’s good to speak about that.

We have like two ways to do that: media and social media. It’s good to use both of these platforms and to educate people actually, because, you know, as I said, not everybody knows what’s our perspective, and we actually have a chance to say what’s our perspective and sometimes explain, so I think it’s good.

Rafael Nadal respects Osaka’s decision, but also wouldn’t do the same:

I respect it. I respect her, of course, as an athlete and her personality. I respect her decision.

I don’t know. I mean, we as sports people, I mean, we need to be ready to accept the questions and to try to produce an answer, no?

I understand her, but in the other hand, for me, I mean, without the press, without the people who normally is traveling who are writing the news and achievements that we are having around the world probably we will not be the athletes that we are today. We don’t gonna have the recognition that we have around the world, and we will not be that popular, no?

So I understand her. In the other hand, I have my point of view that the media is a very important part of our sport, too.

Daniil Medvedev also respects Osaka, but lumps her in with Benoit Paire and Nick Kyrgios!!!

I mean, first of all, me in life it’s quite easy. I think I respect everybody’s opinion. Doesn’t mean that I have to agree with their opinion. Doesn’t matter if it’s Benoit Paire, Naomi Osaka, or Nick Kyrgios. I want to say, I understand why she does it. I respect her opinion.

Talking about myself, of course I had tough moments in my career, talking about you guys, so media after the matches and before the matches, I don’t think I have experienced problems. Like I don’t see any journalist like trying to go at me, you know.

Of course we know, for example, I don’t win a lot on clay and I can get crazy. But I didn’t have really one journalist, like, saying, Okay, you shouldn’t do this or that, because that’s when I’m going to get crazy, I’m going to say, You cannot tell this to me.

I didn’t experience that. There is a lot of hate of course on social media, especially tennis players, probably because of betting and stuff. So that’s where I feel that’s one of the parts, because I need to be honest, I don’t use my social media as much, especially as soon as I became popular.

But, yeah, again, talking about journalist, me, I have no problems. I try always to come to press conference bad mood or good mood. And I feel like even sometimes in the bad mood I can be in a better mood after talking to you guys.

The WTA also released a statement:

WTA response to Naomi Osaka’s decision not to speak to the media at Roland Garros: pic.twitter.com/99zAxSjaqk

— Russell Fuller (@russellcfuller) May 28, 2021