Naomi Osaka, the Japanese tennis star, has had a difficult time dealing with her mental health over the past few years. She recently shared a funny tale with her followers. The introverted player enjoys her anonymity in public places. Fans were pleased to hear her funny tale at the airport. This year, Osaka competed in the Melbourne Summer Set 1 again. The tournament’s top seed had reached the semifinals before withdrawing due to an abdominal injury.

The 25-year-old has played just over 30 matches overall since the 2021 French Open. Osaka has placed a high priority on taking care of her mental health. Every time she has played over the past 18 months, she has frequently had trouble finding her best form.

Naomi Osaka recalls a funny story

In an exclusive interview, Naomi Osaka opened up about her public appearance. The introverted tennis player feels relieved that people have found it difficult to recognize her in public spaces. Osaka said, “It’s pleasant sometimes. I’m no international tennis star, but it’s pleasant to be anonymous at times.”

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Osaka also discussed her battle with mental health issues, saying that she believes it is acceptable for people to be frail and experience mental struggles. The former world no.1 has long struggled with depression and anxiety. As a result, she was forced to drop out of several competitions. She has, however, gained a lot of support from her fans and athletes for speaking out about the issue. Osaka said, “there are several times I go to the airport, and I dress like a bum.”

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Osaka revealed that she only wears sweatpants and a hoodie to the airport. She remembered an incident in which the TSA agent at the airport mistook her gender and asked her to approach for verification. When the agent read Osaka’s full name, she was taken aback. The Japanese star further chimed, “And it’s just so funny to me. So then she’s like, “are you…?” and I’m like, “yeah.” and I just take my passport and I leave.” 

Osaka had once withdrawn from a major title, citing her mental health issues

Osaka had withdrawn from the 2021 French Open after refusing to speak to the media. The four-time major champion announced the news on Twitter. She continued by saying that she would leave the court for a while. After winning her first Grand Slam championship in 2018, Osaka disclosed that she had experienced prolonged depressive episodes.

The organizers warned that continued violations could result in harsher penalties, such as a default from the competition. In a statement, the WTA tour stated that one of its top priorities is promoting mental health awareness. The Japanese player who was 23 years old at the time had previously won the US Open and Australian Open twice. She also withdrew from Roland Garros in 2020 due to a hamstring injury.

Let us know what you think about this young sensation in your comments below.

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