‘People Have Become Weak in Our Modern American Culture’ – Former NBA Star on Naomi Osaka’s ‘Weak Moment’ at Indian Wells

Published 03/22/2022, 3:55 PM EDT

Former world no.1 Naomi Osaka had a torrid start to the 2022 WTA season. After losing in the third round at the Australian Open, she returned to Indian Wells, her second tournament of the season.

However, her performance was not good enough to get her past the second round. Interestingly, she spoke on the court after her second-round loss about a heckler who ruined the match for the Japanese star. Former professional basketball player and mental health advocate Royce White recently talked about the whole incident involving Osaka.

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Royce White talks about the Indian Wells incident involving Naomi Osaka

In an interview with Jason Whitlock, White explained what is the current situation of Osaka and expressed his sympathy towards her.

“I believe that she, like many in her generation, or in our modern culture, are suffering from a radical material and external validating culture. One that says, external validation and hyper materialism will give you empowerment and it’ll also make you healthy. But those things aren’t a pretext for health, they are actually a pretext for uncontrollable unresolvable angst and despair.”

The former NBA star continued, “I do feel for Osaka because I think that there’s so much radical, unconstrained, unsorted emotions there, that I actually worry about the way she may cope and I caution you and others who may be watching, not to use the anomaly of an Osaka breaking down in front of the world on this huge stage as a representation of the greater mental health crisis in our culture.”

Watch This Story: Near and dear ones of tennis star Naomi Osaka

White concluded by saying that Osaka had a moment of weakness which could be seen in many adults across the globe.

“Understand that, that is a moment of weakness… that is rightfully categorized as weakness but many people have become weak in our modern American culture,”

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Osaka will play the Miami Masters

After leaving Indian Wells in tears, Naomi Osaka will be back at the Miami Open. On Wednesday, she will play against Australian tennis player Astra Sharma in the first round. Currently ranked 77th in the WTA rankings, the Japanese star will look to bounce back from a disappointing Indian Wells. Also, this will be a great opportunity for her to gain some ranking points as well.

Can Osaka go far at the Miami Open? Let us know in the comments.

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Debkinkar Maity is a Tennis Author at EssentiallySports. His desire to become a sports journalist inspired him to take up a degree in journalism and mass communication, and he hasn't looked back ever since. Following the sport for over a decade now, Debkinkar has an ardent love for Roger Federer.

‘People Have Become Weak in Our Modern American Culture’ – Former NBA Star on Naomi Osaka’s ‘Weak Moment’ at Indian Wells

Royce White talks about the Indian Wells incident involving Naomi Osaka

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Osaka will play the Miami Masters