Naomi Osaka: A tennis player interrupts a press conference crying after he has switched suppliers

A Osaka agent later called the reporter a “bully.”

Before the Olympics, Osaka last attended the French Open in May. Prior to the start of the tournament, the four-time Grand Champion and World No. 2 said he was not going to hold press conferences — knowing he would be fined — referring to his mental health.

After a statement from all four major tournaments – the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open – threatening additional penalties, including failure to do so, Osaka withdrew, revealing he had “suffered a long time from depression” winning his first major championship in 2018.

“I’ll work it out at the same time as you”

After answering questions related to the briefings, this is a discussion between columnist Daugherty and Osaka:

Daugherty: “You’re not crazy about dealing with us, especially in this form. Still, you have a lot of outside interests served by the media platform. I think my question is, how do you balance the two? And do you have anything you’d like to share with us about what you said? To Simone Biles? “(Earlier at the press conference, Osaka said he sent a message to Biles, but said he wanted to give him room,” because I know how overwhelming it can feel. “)

Osaka: “When you say I’m not crazy about dealing with you, what does that mean?”

Daugherty: “Well, you said you don’t particularly like the format of the press conference, but it seems to be apparently the most commonly used form of communication to the media and through the media to the public.”

Osaka: “It’s interesting. I’d say an opportunity, like when to hold press conferences, which I think is the hardest.”

Then Osaka stopped, saying he was thinking. The moderator suggested moving forward and asked Osaka if he wanted to answer the next question.

Osaka: “No. I’m really interested in that perspective. So if you could repeat it, it would be awesome.”

Daugherty: “The question was that you are not particularly interested in dealing with the media, especially in this form. You have suggested that there are better ways to make it that we would like to try to explore it. My question, I guess, was also My question is, how do you think you can best balance these two? ”

Osaka: “I feel like this is something I can’t really speak for everyone. I can only speak for myself, but since my youth I’ve been interested in the media for me, and I think it’s because of my background and how I play because I’m a tennis player first, that is why many people are interested in me.

“I would say in this regard that I’m completely different from a lot of people. I can’t help but say that some of the things I tweet, or some of the things I say, create a lot of news or things like I know it’s because I’ve won a couple of big hits and I’m got to do a lot of press conferences where these things happen.

“But I’d also say I’m not really sure about balancing the two. I’ll realize it at the same time as you, I’d say.”

After Osaka received the next question from the tennis journalist about preparation and Haiti, Osaka showed visible feelings.

CNN has contacted Daugherty to comment.

“There are people I don’t know so well who ask me really, really sensitive questions.”

Prior to the discussion with Daugherty, the reporter asked Osaka if he could give advice to reporters on how they can help improve the athletes ’experience during difficult losses and moments when they ask questions at press conferences.

“I feel like most of the time – this is just me as a person – I’m pretty open about press conferences,” Osaka said. “I feel like I’ve been like that all my life. Sometimes I’d say there are people I don’t know well who ask me really, really sensitive questions. And then especially after a loss, that kind of gets a little stronger.

“I would say even recurring questions, like questions we’ve been asked before, but maybe you weren’t there at the previous press conference. Just like maybe you’re reading articles. I’m not a professional at press conferences or anything, but just to make it a little friendlier, I would say.”

He also suggested that the player take a “sick day”.

“We get fines if we don’t hold press conferences, but sometimes we’re really sad,” Osaka said. “I feel like maybe there should be a rule that maybe we could take sick day from it and maybe reply to you via email and stuff like that. I feel like it would be kind of fair, but then I’m just talking about me and I don’t know how your friend as a whole (referring to the media ) – you probably want to catch us when we’re also right outside the field, so I’m not sure what’s fair. ”

On the downside, Osaka said, “It’s really scary. I see the news every day. Honestly, the earthquake was kind of close to my parents’ school there. I’m honestly not quite sure how it happens, and I haven’t seen if there are any pictures or videos of it yet.”

At the 2020 Western & Southern Open — held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York instead of the Cincinnati area — Osaka was ranked second when he retired due to a thigh injury. He would continue to win the US Open.