Tennis star Naomi Osaka said yesterday she wants to be on top form at the Olympics and will take part in press conferences, after pulling out of several tournaments citing her struggles with depression and anxiety.
The world number two told Japan’s national broadcaster NHK she was getting ready to play on home turf at the pandemic-postponed Tokyo Games, after having withdrawn from Wimbledon and the French Open.
“I am preparing myself little by little so I can be at the top of my game for the Olympics,” the 23-year-old wrote in a message published by the broadcaster.
“Since getting the attention of the world, I’ve always had bouts of anxiety. This is especially the case in the lead up to big competitions.”
Osaka set off a debate about mental health in June after abandoning her French Open campaign just one match in over a dispute on media duties.
The Japanese player had said post-match news conferences were detrimental to her mental health and likened them to “kicking people when they’re down”.
She later revealed her battle with depression and anxiety in a post on social media, saying she wanted to take time away from the game to get better.
In the message published by NHK, Osaka said she was “proud” to play for her country at the Games, adding that she would take part in news conferences while giving consideration to her mental health. She was fined $15,000 and threatened with disqualification from Roland Garros after refusing to honour mandatory media commitments.
French Open organisers protested that they had treated her with “care and respect” after they were accused of being heavy-handed.
Osaka’s agent said last month that she had withdrawn from Wimbledon to spend time with friends and family.
But he added that she was “excited to play in front of her home fans” at Tokyo 2020, which begins on July 23.

Switzerland name Federer in Olympics squad
Roger Federer was named by Switzerland’s Olympic Committee in their team for the upcoming Tokyo Games yesterday.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion had said he would wait until the end of Wimbledon, with the men’s final scheduled for this Sunday, to confirm his participation at Tokyo, with the men’s singles starting on July 24.
The only major title Federer has yet to win is the Olympic singles but he claimed the doubles in Beijing 13 years ago.
“My feeling is I would like to go to the Olympics,” he said in late-June. “I would like to play as many tournaments as possible.
“But I think we decided now let’s just get through Wimbledon, sit down as a team, and then decide where we go from there.”