Tennis star Naomi Osaka was recently fined after refusing to speak to the press at the recent French Open. Was this the correct response?

Dylan McCoy, 21, senior, Rutgers University, New Brunswick N.J.

McCoy is the associate sports editor at The Daily Targum, Rutgers University’s student newspaper, and also assistant sports director at WRSU, the university’s student-led radio station. 

 I believe that the organizers of the French Open were wrong to fine Naomi Osaka for not speaking to the press after her match. Athletes should have a choice in their post-game media duties. Their job is not to answer questions from reporters, their job is to excel at their sport.

Many people in society deal with social anxieties and can control who they interact with. Fans expect players to forgo this privilege, and in today’s age of all-access coverage, they expect constant quotes and interaction from their favorite athletes. This has led to one of tennis’ biggest stars withdrawing from the tournament.

Osaka would have most likely advanced deep into the tournament, but she chose to deal with her mental health struggles over playing for people that would consistently fine her and might have expelled her down the line. While Osaka and others should have a choice based on morality, the sports organizations need to realize that the athletes have power, and they can choose to use it in ways they see fit, like not playing.

This debate also touches on the idea of mental health not being talked about in major sports. Kevin Love, a professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, made waves last year with his piece “To Anybody Going Through It,” where he described feelings of depression and being burnt out, which a lot of people can relate to. I think fans (myself included) see these athletes making millions and forget that they are regular people dealing with feelings and emotions that we don’t see on the court. This was the first time a lot of people truly saw the mental trials and tribulations that athletes go through. 

Players like Osaka who make tough choices will allow other players to be more open and will help leagues and teams take the necessary steps to provide resources for their players various mental health needs. If athletes feel comfortable and in a good head space, the sports we get will be at their purest and their best. 

Nick Pugliese, 64, Gannett Florida state sports editor; sports editor, Palm Beach Post, West Palm Beach, Fla.

In the past, Pugliese has run multimedia sports departments in Tampa, Fla. and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and was a longtime NFL and college football beat writer.

 When Naomi Osaka refused to speak to the press at the French Open, the knee-jerk reaction from everyone was, “How dare she?” Sports columnists rushed to crank out pieces ripping Osaka for shirking her responsibility as a professional tennis player. Later, she was fined, and many in the press applauded.

I recall looking for a column to run and there were plenty to choose from, all blasting the young tennis star and, for all intents and purposes, rightfully so. I’ve always thought athletes should talk to the press simply because we are the conduit between them and the fans. That communication has changed in the era of social media, and many now have access to their favorite athletes via Twitter, Instagram, and even TikTok.

Still, there remains a need to ask athletes tough questions and try to get their hopefully honest answers, especially after a game or match when everyone wants to know what happened.

Fortunately for us, we waited a few days to pull that Osaka column and that’s when the news broke about her mental health problems. 

It was revealed that Osaka has dealt with these issues for awhile and that changed the dialogue. Osaka lives in Boca Raton, and soon after she burst onto the world stage several years ago, The Palm Beach Post had an exclusive interview where she acknowledged she was shy and not comfortable being in the spotlight. Apparently, that was merely the tip of the anxiety iceberg.

As more athletes talk openly about these issues, the press should be applauding their honesty rather than attacking. The press always will seek quotes from athletes after events, even demand quotes when things are normal. However, we also must be cognizant of other issues and act fairly.

In reflecting on the fine levied by the French Open, the organization should have used the opportunity to educate tennis fans that things that happen in the public eye may not always be what they seem.

Dylan McCoy, 21, senior, Rutgers University, New Brunswick N.J.

Dylan McCoy, 21, senior, Rutgers University, New Brunswick N.J.

McCoy is the associate sports editor at The Daily Targum, Rutgers University’s student newspaper, and also assistant sports director at WRSU, the university’s student-led radio station. 

 I believe that the organizers of the French Open were wrong to fine Naomi Osaka for not speaking to the press after her match. Athletes should have a choice in their post-game media duties. Their job is not to answer questions from reporters, their job is to excel at their sport.

Many people in society deal with social anxieties and can control who they interact with. Fans expect players to forgo this privilege, and in today’s age of all-access coverage, they expect constant quotes and interaction from their favorite athletes. This has led to one of tennis’ biggest stars withdrawing from the tournament.

Osaka would have most likely advanced deep into the tournament, but she chose to deal with her mental health struggles over playing for people that would consistently fine her and might have expelled her down the line. While Osaka and others should have a choice based on morality, the sports organizations need to realize that the athletes have power, and they can choose to use it in ways they see fit, like not playing.

This debate also touches on the idea of mental health not being talked about in major sports. Kevin Love, a professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, made waves last year with his piece “To Anybody Going Through It,” where he described feelings of depression and being burnt out, which a lot of people can relate to. I think fans (myself included) see these athletes making millions and forget that they are regular people dealing with feelings and emotions that we don’t see on the court. This was the first time a lot of people truly saw the mental trials and tribulations that athletes go through. 

Players like Osaka who make tough choices will allow other players to be more open and will help leagues and teams take the necessary steps to provide resources for their players various mental health needs. If athletes feel comfortable and in a good head space, the sports we get will be at their purest and their best.