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Post by Admin on Jun 2, 2021 15:29:32 GMT
Stephen A. Smith reacts to Naomi Osaka saying that she will withdraw from the French Open, announcing Monday on social media that she will "take some time away from the court" one day after she was fined and threatened harsher sanctions for skipping her mandatory media obligations.
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Post by Admin on Jun 2, 2021 19:01:10 GMT
NBC Sports’ Mary Carillo joins Hoda and Savannah live to weigh in on the events that led star tennis player Naomi Osaka to skip post-match press conferences at the 2021 French Open and announce her withdrawal from the tournament Monday. “I wasn’t terribly surprised when she made the announcement she was pulling away because she hated to be this big, huge story,” Carillo says.
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Post by Admin on Jun 3, 2021 3:00:39 GMT
Shot of the Day #4 - Serena Williams | Roland-Garros 2021
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Post by Admin on Jun 3, 2021 5:07:05 GMT
Nike (NKE) and other major sponsors have come out in support of tennis star Naomi Osaka following her decision to withdraw from the French Open.
The sports apparel giant — who signed a sponsorship deal with Osaka in 2019 — applauded the athlete in a statement on Monday for opening up about her struggle with depression.
"Our thoughts are with Naomi. We support her and recognize her courage in sharing her own mental health experience," Nike said.
Osaka's decision to pull out of the competition came after the tournament, also called Roland Garros, fined her $15,000 for not speaking to the media following her first round match on Sunday.
Citing mental health reasons, the four-time major champion announced on Twitter last Wednesday that she would not participate in any news conferences at the tournament. Announcing her subsequent decision to withdraw, she revealed that she has "suffered long bouts of depression" since winning her first Grand Slam title in 2018.
Roland Garros said in a statement that Osaka had failed to honor her contractual media obligations and was fined under the tournament's Code of Conduct. The statement added that Roland Garros had "tried unsuccessfully to speak with her to check on her well-being" and that she was reminded that "rules should apply equally to all players."
Other sponsors issued statements in support of Osaka, who was born in Japan and grew up in the United States.
"Naomi Osaka's decision reminds us all how important it is to prioritize personal health and well-being," Mastercard (MA) said in a statement. "We support her and admire her courage to address important issues, both on and off the court."
Osaka became the first number one tennis player to join Mastercard's roster of global ambassadors in 2019.
Swiss luxury watchmaker TAG Heuer said that it supports its brand ambassadors "in triumph but also during challenging periods."
"Naomi is going through difficult times and we truly hope to see her back soon. She is a great champion and we are convinced that she will come out of this period stronger, be it professionally or personally," the company said in a statement.
Nissin Foods, a Japanese company known for its instant noodles, also released a message of solidarity.
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Post by Admin on Jun 3, 2021 5:35:06 GMT
On Monday, Naomi Osaka announced her decision to withdraw from the French Open, citing anxiety and depression. Shortly after her announcement, stars like Serena Williams, Steph Curry, Russell Wilson, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King and Laurie Hernandez took to social media to offer their support and praise.
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