Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open 2021. Since then, there has been a constant echo about the mental health of the players. Top athletes including, Serena Williams and Chris Evert, have acknowledged the issue. Chris Evert, last year, talked about the issues relating to her struggle during her active years. Moreover, she also highlighted her struggle when there wasn’t any awareness about the issue. The American player emphasized the growing surveillance by the media in recent times.
Chris Evert talked about mental health and the increasing presence of media after Osaka’s withdrawal.
Chris Evert pondered after the issue came into the limelight as to how she also dealt with difficult times after her defeats. She said, “Sometimes, I didn’t come out of my hotel room for two days.”
Evert had more to add.
She said, “There was depression, but it wasn’t labeled back then. We didn’t know what it was.” She narrated what people thought it was, “Oh, Chrissie’s taking her losses hard.”
Evert talks about the change in media.
She said, “In my day and age, they weren’t camping out on your lawn”. Furthermore, she added, “If you went to a restaurant, you’d get your picture taken, but it wasn’t as intrusive.”
How is Naomi Osaka doing at the moment?
Four-time grand slam winner did not have a great start to 2022. Moving on, Naomi Osaka managed to reach the finals of the Miami Open, however, the incumbent world no. 1 Iga Swiatek defeated the Japanese player.
Osaka's Injury.
Osaka suffered an Achilles injury which hindered her game at the French Open, and ulitimately, suffered a harsh blow in the first round itself. Due to this, she decided to withdraw from the grass-court major at Wimbledon.