It was throughout that portion of the session that Osaka started to wipe her face and pulled her hat down over her eyes. A reporter stated, “Sorry,” as Osaka acquired emotional, to which Osaka replied, “No, you are tremendous good.”
With Osaka crying, the moderator stated they might take a fast break. After a couple of minutes, Osaka returned to complete the session. She apologized for strolling out.
Osaka’s agent later known as the reporter a “bully.”
Previous to the Olympics, Osaka’s final time competing was on the French Open in Could. Earlier than the beginning of that match, the four-time main champion and world No. 2 stated she wouldn’t be doing press conferences — realizing she would get fined — citing her psychological well being.
After an announcement from all 4 main tournaments — the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open — that threatened additional punishment, together with default from the match, Osaka withdrew, revealing she had “suffered lengthy bouts of melancholy” since successful her first main title in 2018.
‘I am figuring it out similtaneously you’
After answering back-to-back questions concerning information conferences, that is the alternate that occurred between columnist Daugherty and Osaka:
Daugherty: “You are not loopy about coping with us, particularly on this format. But you have got numerous outdoors pursuits which are served by having a media platform. I suppose my query is how do you steadiness the 2? And in addition do you have got something you’d prefer to share with us about what you probably did say to Simone Biles?” (Earlier within the press convention, Osaka stated she had despatched a message to Biles however stated she wished to present her house, “as a result of I understand how overwhelming it might really feel.”)
Osaka: “If you say I am not loopy about coping with you guys, what does that consult with?”
Daugherty: “Effectively, you’ve got stated you do not particularly just like the press convention format, but that appears to be clearly essentially the most broadly used technique of communication to the media and thru the media to the general public.”
Osaka: “That is attention-grabbing. I might say the event, like when to do the press conferences what I really feel is essentially the most troublesome.”
Osaka then paused, saying she was pondering. The moderator instructed shifting on and requested Osaka if she wished to take the subsequent query.
Osaka: “No. I am very really considering that standpoint. So when you may repeat that, that might be superior.”
Daugherty: “The query was that you just’re not particularly keen on coping with the media, particularly on this format. You’ve got instructed there are higher methods to do it, that we might prefer to attempt to discover that. My query, I suppose, was you even have outdoors pursuits past tennis which are served by having the platform that the media presents to you. My query is how do you suppose you would possibly be capable to greatest steadiness the 2?”
Osaka: “I really feel like that is one thing that I can not actually converse for everyone. I can solely converse for myself, however ever since I used to be youthful I’ve had numerous media curiosity on me, and I believe it is due to my background in addition to how I play. As a result of within the first place I am a tennis participant. That is why lots of people are considering me.
“I might say in that regard I am fairly totally different to lots of people. I can not actually assist that there are some issues that I tweet or some issues that I say that form of create numerous information articles or issues like that. I do know it is as a result of I’ve received a pair grand slams and I’ve gotten to do numerous press conferences the place this stuff occur.
“However I might additionally say I am not likely certain the right way to steadiness the 2. I am figuring it out similtaneously you’re I might say.”
After that, whereas Osaka was receiving the subsequent set of questions from a tennis journalist concerning preparation and Haiti did Osaka present seen emotion.
CNN has reached out to Daugherty for remark.
‘There’s those that I do not know that effectively that ask me actually, actually delicate questions’
Earlier than the alternate with Daugherty, a reporter requested Osaka if there was any recommendation she may give reporters on how they may also help make it a greater expertise for athletes going by means of troublesome losses and moments whereas asking questions throughout press conferences.
“For me, I really feel like more often than not — that is simply me as an individual — I am fairly open in terms of press conferences,” Osaka stated. “I really feel like I have been that approach my entire life. There are occasions the place I might say there’s those that I do not know that effectively that ask me actually, actually delicate questions. After which particularly after a loss, that form of amplifies a bit.
“I might say like even repetitive questions, like questions we have been requested earlier than, however perhaps you guys weren’t there on the earlier press convention. Similar to perhaps learn transcripts. I am not knowledgeable in press conferences or something, however, simply to make it a bit extra of a friendlier expertise, I might say.”
She additionally gave the suggestion of a participant taking a “sick day.”
“We get fined if we do not do press conferences however typically we really feel actually unhappy,” Osaka stated. “I really feel like perhaps there must be a rule that we may perhaps take a sick day from that and perhaps reply to you guys in emails and issues like that. I really feel like it might be form of honest however then once more I am solely talking from my facet and I do not understand how your guys’ entire (referencing the media) — I suppose perhaps you need to seize us after we’re straight off the court docket as effectively, so I am unsure what’s honest.”
Concerning Haiti, Osaka stated, “It is actually scary. I see the information day by day. Truthfully, the earthquake was form of near my mother and father’ college there. I am truthfully not likely certain how that is doing, and I have not seen any footage or video of it but.”
On the 2020 Western & Southern Open — held on the USTA Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Middle in New York as a substitute of the Cincinnati space — Osaka was the runner-up after withdrawing due to a hamstring damage. She would go on to win the US Open.
