Even more questions for Osaka when she returns

Thank you, Naomi for bringing attention (especially in Japan where it's still taboo) to mental health.

This is true courage.

This news only huge in Japan and some part of France. Not elsewhere.

This news only huge in Japan and some part of France. Not elsewhere.

It’s a lead sports story or editorial in almost every major newspaper.

Truly Naomi Osaka is a media work of art.

Media red meat for the masses.

Even more questions for Osaka when she returns

Naaahhhh, I’m good. I’ve already lost interest.

I largely agree with Mr Dahlberg here excepting were he shows the typical journalist denial of the media’s responsibility. I even agree that the journalists are very careful with how the approach the female players who are quickly ready to aggressively respond. But Mr Dahlberg while indeed the athletes must meet and interact with fans as they must do with fans and sponsors also the media has a responsibility to INFORM and report and not to provoke and take matters out of context. I have had to deal myself manu militari with photographers who just would not stop snapping when asked kindly and repeatedly, remove journalists from locker rooms where they should NEVER get access to, or asking non polite , disrespectful questions. THAT also has to stop. And yes, female tennis players must stop behaving like prima donna’s and drama queens

Once again, @robertmaes 12:25pm, we find your comments both ‘fair and insightful’. We imaging your experience in sports is on par with Mr. Dahlberg, who has been an AP employee for over 41 years. You appear qualified to call to question both the players’ and the media’s symbiotic roles in coverage of “Sports”. However, when you’ve call out athletes here, (again today as yesterday), as “selfish”, “prima donnas’, “disgraceful”, etc your posts were tagged a “insulting, petty and spiteful”.

We are therefore left to imagine such editorial “Opinions’ as Mr. Dahlberg offers above are “for consumption only”. Unfortunately, disagreement, in any fashion, with the information and how it’s presented will be met with disapproval by his employers, and other media outlets, like this one, capitalizing on their feed of topics and stories.

Just why Osaka picked the opening of the French Open to make her ill-advised stand isn’t quite clear.

Something to do with the fact that she never performs well on clay? As I said before, what will she do at the US and Oz Opens? What's more important? The money or her mental health?

Kit gloves for the kid.

Seriously, how many athletes have been through the media gauntlet now? Thousands? Why is it the first time we’re hearing about mental issues being caused by press conferences? And she’s been a media darling since the beginning. Don’t like repetitive questions? That’s half of humanity! Don’t like to think about your short-comings? Again, just like everyone else.

The thing is, with her activist approach to social media it just comes across as more of an “I’m special” thing than a mental issues thing. She may be depressed, but then how did it come to this? She says it’s been going on for years?

She’s playing sports and making millions. If this makes her depressed, then maybe she needs to spend less time thinking about how bad she has it and more on how lucky she really is. Seriously. First world problems.

I’m skeptical.

Why so much hate toward Osaka? Where are all the social justice warriors running to her defense? Is it because she is Asian?

Interesting that Serena Williams gets a free pass for all her on-court despicable behavior. Yet, Osaka has clinical depression and she is attacked by the fake news. Wow.

The event organizers and the big sports management organizations treat the athletes like circus seals. They don't give a rip about the athletes as people. For them it is a big money making show and the athletes need to jump through the flaming hoops and make the appropriate noises as they balance the ball on their noses or they get whipped by the trainer. It is sickening to watch how the big wealthy corporations that promote these sports, the people like Bernie Ecclestone for example, treat the competitors who make them wealthy.

Thank you Tim Dahlberg. Best assessment of the situation I've read so far because your focusing on actual behavior.  In another article, I stated "Under mental stress? Go get some professional help. You don't have to tell anyone about it, and it's none of anyone's business." Naomi Osaka seems like nice person, an exciting tennis player. Of course we should all be rooting for her if she indeed has problems. However, she knew the conditions of her job and her deals with her sponsors. She should expect to be treated equally. I completely agree that her handlers really failed her, especially probably her boyfriend.

This article reeks of "blame the victim" mentality, and tries to put a veneer of innocence on the media.

Let the racket do the talking and report on that.

Reporters are only interested in digging up lurid details to draw attention to their own stories and sell copies, regardless of accuracy or negative effect on the subject.