Naomi Osaka is a Spoiled Brat.

[Dax]

She is 23 years old and has earned something like close to $25 million from playing professional tennis.

She wthdrew from the French Open after she was fined and threatened with being disqualified for not speaking to media during the tournament to protect her mental health.

I don't know how far she got before leaving but even if she had got thru to the second round she would have earned like 60,000 euros. So will she now give back the money she has earned before withdrawing?

The sport has been good to her so if she felt that the questions from the media threatened her mental health then she should have just said: "I'm not answering you. Next question."

Ban her ass for Wimbledon and see how she reacts.

[Undies]

sounds weird. why is it a requirement to speak to the media anyway?

[WritersPanic]

sounds weird. why is it a requirement to speak to the media anyway?

Agreed. She should just go full Aubrey Plaza on the media vultures.

[WritersPanic]

And why is she named after an alternate atomic bomb target?

[tumbling.dice]

I don't know her mental health status, I could find no details. It drives me up the wall, however, that some don't believe that mental health is a serious issue. My dad suffered terribly from anxiety and depression, eventually spiraling down into paranoia. And just try getting a loved one decent care when they are in such a state. If Osaka genuinely feels she should take a break then more power to her.

[Jessica]

I agree with Dice. 23 is so young. The media intensity, and the fact that the entire world can talk at you on Twitter or whatever makes doing anything that puts you in the spotlight a big pressure these days.

Regardless, it's irrelevant as to exactly why she didn't want to. She shouldn't have to. I'm sad that she'll get a lot of this kind of negative response, which I doubt will be very good for her mental health either.

[Micko]

I heard she is going to earn 77 million indorsing products in japan, she doesn't even need to pick a tennis racquet for the rest of her life once she pockets that.

[Audiogen]

I don't follow why she should have to pay money back if she was already fined and threatened with being disqualified. If women's tennis is a sport you follow, I suppose I can understand why you would be irritated but if it were a sport I cared about, and an isolated incident, I would give the athlete the benefit of the doubt and prefer they seek the therapy they need rather than watch them sit at the podium saying "Not answering. Next Question" to every reporter.

[Audiogen]

sounds weird. why is it a requirement to speak to the media anyway?

To keep sports writers and talking heads employed. Postgame interviews are usually a side note to the game or match but sometimes they do provide some good content.

[Meliai]

I don't know her mental health status, I could find no details. It drives me up the wall, however, that some don't believe that mental health is a serious issue. My dad suffered terribly from anxiety and depression, eventually spiraling down into paranoia. And just try getting a loved one decent care when they are in such a state. If Osaka genuinely feels she should take a break then more power to her.

Agreed. There's this whole mentality with celebrity culture, including athletes...the public sometimes act as if they own celebrities and like celebrities owe them something

God forbid a young woman prioritize her own mental health just because she's made a little money doing what she does.

Doesn't matter how rich or successful someone is, they're still human and subject to human frailties

[Dax]

If you can't stand the heat ... stay out the kitchen. But don't first get mega wealthy before you bite the hand that feeds you.

[Jessica]

If you can't stand the heat ... stay out the kitchen. But don't first get mega wealthy before you bite the hand that feeds you.

That might have some truth of you're Paris Hilton or some similar but more current celebrity. But she's a sports star. They're there to give people sports to watch. Why do they owe us interviews etc. ? Personally I think it's better if celebrity culture is a separate thing to sports star, actor, musician, etc. People should be able to become those things and choose to not do the celebrity bullshit. They are giving us their art, that's enough.

if they WANT to do the celebrity thing, fine, they can.

[Audiogen]

That might have some truth of you're Paris Hilton or some similar but more current celebrity. But she's a sports star. They're there to give people sports to watch. Why do they owe us interviews etc. ? Personally I think it's better if celebrity culture is a separate thing to sports star, actor, musician, etc. People should be able to become those things and choose to not do the celebrity bullshit. They are giving us their art, that's enough.

if they WANT to do the celebrity thing, fine, they can.

Speaking to the media is usually a part of contracts in sports.

[Jessica]

Speaking to the media is usually a part of contracts in sports.

Then I'm saying that I don't think it should be. Or at least not if it's a sudden mental health issue. When someone is that young maybe they're only just in the process of realising they can't handle it. They should rethink what they do in the future, but not be penalised for it now.

[Audiogen]

Then I'm saying that I don't think it should be. Or at least not if it's a sudden mental health issue. When someone is that young maybe they're only just in the process of realising they can't handle it. They should rethink what they do in the future, but not be penalised for it now.

In team sports it's a necessity, or at least serves a function beyond celebrity culture. They discuss trades, injuries, changes in lineups etc.

I don't really follow many individual sports to see if a lot of that is discussed.

[Jessica]

In team sports it's a necessity, or at least serves a function beyond celebrity culture. They discuss trades, injuries, changes in lineups etc.

I don't really follow many individual sports to see if a lot of that is discussed.

How is that a necessity? I'm not trying to be argumentative or say you're wrong, I just genuinely am not sure.. why can't one person from the team do it? Or a dedicated team media representative?

Either way, I still think suddenly not being able to do it because of a mental health issue should be treated with kindness and understanding, not fines. I don't know about this woman specifically, but most people at this level have been in it since before they were old enough to really know what they want to be or do with their adult life, anyway.