World No. 1 Barty doesn't share Osaka's news conference stance

Big gamble on Osaka's part. I see her relenting on her decision just before the start and maybe pulling a Marshawn Lynch...."Yeah"

Fair enough to Barty. She seems to like dealing with media, because she probably doesnt get constant non-tennis related questions in these press conferences, asking her if she can eat sushi and use chopsticks, does she like Japanese men, can she please answer questions in X language, what she thinks about the Olympics going ahead, and so on.

If Naomi-chan is fined all her fine money will go to her chosen charity so I cannot see any issue at all.

Good for her. A true professional, not a spoilt child.

Osaka risks fines of up to $20,000 for skipping news conferences at the French Open which starts on Sunday.

She said she will donate the money to mental health charities.

I don't understand this; does she have that choice or is she talking about donating an equivalent amount to the fine?

Barty... path of least resistance. Here's to the "spoilt" ones taking a stand for something other than no stand at all. I see the "spoilt" ones are taking all the heat in this show. Taking all the blame. What's the matter? Jealous?

@ CKAI - well argued.

Not saying anything against the other posters but I cannot help but think a lot of the vitriol against Naomi-chan is due to the fact she is a mega-rich, loud and proud black woman who calls it as it is, rather than toeing the typical PR line.

Naomi-chan is under no obligation to talk to the vulture media who are always attacking her.

I'm with Barty on this one. Interviews are no big deal unless you want to make it one.

Naomi is pathetic, can't sit for 20 mins and answer a few, admittedly sometimes BS, questions? It's part of being a pro... The sponsors and organizers are paying her for this. Don't like the questions..say so. Ask stupid questions back. Don't throw the dummy out of the pram.

Japanese usually have better behavior.

Sorry, cynical old me senses that Naomi is playing to the gallery.

The timing, the earnest nod to mental health awareness, the donation, it fells so forced/contrived.

Naomi at least appears to latch on to, dare I even whisper it a feigned woke agenda. At least politically.

Good on her.

She's taken positive action when she encounters problems -taking time out, pursuing other things like cricket where she performed well and had a right old time, before coming back to winning ways in tennis - ie acting maturely and constructively. She knows that the top players earn big bucks and that attending press conferences comes with the territory. If Osaka doesn't want to do them, she can pay me that amount for doing it for her. $20,000 is a lot for me.

gambaru nippon:

Naomi-chan is under no obligation to talk to the vulture media who are always attacking her.

I've never seen the reporters attack her. Who knows, maybe she's just given up on attempting to speak Japanese. Or maybe she's worried a reporter might ask her if she really has renounced her US citizenship because nobody can find her name on the official list made public by the US government.

She can give as much as she likes to charity but she's going to end up paying double because there is no way the authorities are going to just give that money away.

Japanese usually have better behavior.

... Is there an echo in here?

Nothing to do with the fact we just disagree with their opinions right ?

Sure ok. Say it don't spray it friend.

"We know what we sign up for as professional tennis players," the 25-year-old Australian said.

Well said. Osaka is the highest paid female athlete in the world and she can't answer a few questions?

Very interesting play of dynamics to see Osaka's strength to resist giving interviews, as bolstered by her Western upbringing, while the fact that she is unable to mentally handle questions that exert even a slight amount of pressure on her psyche, is displayed by her fragile Japanese mind.

Barty, the adult.

Or perhaps the child who agrees to answer stupid questions from the media.

Why should answering questions from the media be part of any job contract? She's a tennis player. The media should report on the tennis.

I can understand why contracts would be made to require press conferences. People want to hear their stars speak, and it drives up overall interest.

That said, if a player is in a strong enough position to keep that clause out of their contract, good on them. Playing the sport is what they are there for, speaking to the press is a peripheral.