Afif rejoins QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune team for QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune training as QFA completes all arrangements to host Asian TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021 qualifiers PAGE 14 Osaka withdraws from French Open DPA/PA-MEDIA rules are quite outdated in parts she has also struggled. LONDON and I wanted to highlight that. “I wrote privately to the Billie Jean King ‘torn’ NAOMI Osaka has announced This isn’t a situation I ever imagined or intended. I think tournament apologising and Earlier, Osaka’s decision that she will be withdrawing saying that I would be more to boycott mandatory media from the French Open because now the best thing for the tournament, the other players and than happy to speak with them interviews at the French Open of the furore caused by her my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back after the tournament as the had left tennis legend Billie boycott of media duties. to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris. slams are intense. Jean King “torn”. The world number two “I’m gonna take some time King, a 12-time Grand won her opening match I would never trivialise mental health or use the term lightly. away from the court now, but Slam singles champion, took against Patricia Maria Tig on The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since when the time is right I really to Twitter to outline her stance Sunday but her decision not to want to work with the Tour on what is proving to be a con- take part in press conferences the US Open in 2018 and I have had a really hard time to discuss ways we can make tentious issue. or interviews has been the big- coping with that. things better for the players, “I fully admire and respect gest talking point of the tour- press and fans.” what Naomi is doing with her nament. Naomi Osaka on Twitter American Coco Gauff re- platform, so I am a little torn The Grand Slams reacted plied to Osaka’s tweet to express as I try to learn from both sides strongly to Osaka’s move, re- her support and admiration. of the situation,” wrote King, a leasing a joint statement on The world number 25 co-founder of the WTA. Sunday that threatened her with wrote: “Stay strong. I admire “While it’s important that potential disqualificationand a your vulnerability.” everyone has the right to speak ban from future tournaments Martina Navratilova tweet- their truth, I have always be- should she not reconsider. ed her best wishes, saying: “I lieved that as professional ath- Osaka, who cited mental am so sad about Naomi Osaka. letes we have a responsibility health reasons, wrote on Twit- I truly hope she will be OK. to make ourselves available to ter: “Hey everyone, this isn’t As athletes we are taught to the media. a situation I ever imagined or take care of our body, and per- “In our day, without the intended when I posted a few haps the mental and emotional press, nobody would have days ago. aspect gets short shrift. This known who we are or what we “I think now the best thing is about more than doing or thought. There is no question for the tournament, the other not doing a press conference. they helped build and grow players and my well-being is Good luck Naomi – we are all our sport to what it is today. that I withdraw so that every- pulling for you! “And kudos “I acknowledge things are one can get back to focusing on to Naomi Osaka for caring so very different now with social the tennis going on in Paris.” much about the other players. media and everyone having Osaka said she had suf- Naomi Osaka of Japan eyes the ball as she serves to Romania’s Patricia Maria Tig during their women’s singles first round match of The Ro- “While she tried to make an immediate ability to speak fered bouts of depression land Garros 2021 French Open tennis tournament in Paris on Sunday. (AFP) a situation better for herself their truth. since winning her first slam and others, she inadvertently “The media still play an title at the US Open in 2018 health or use the term lightly. I’m often wearing headphones of anxiety before I speak to apology, saying she felt she made it worse. Hope this solu- important role in telling our and that talking to the media “The truth is that I have as that helps dull my social the world’s media.” had made things worse. tion, pulling out, as brutal as it story. There is no question that triggered anxiety. suffered long bouts of depres- anxiety. Osaka’s sister Mari at- Osaka’s Twitter post con- is will allow her to start heal- the media needs to respect “I never wanted to be be a sion since the US Open in “Though the tennis press tempted to explain more tinued: “So here in Paris I was ing and take care of her SELF.” certain boundaries. But at the distraction and I accept that my 2018 and I have had a really has always been kind to me about her sibling’s stance already feeling vulnerable and Wimbledon starts in four end of the day it is important timing was not ideal and my hard time coping with that. (and I wanna apologise espe- with a post on the website anxious so I thought it was bet- weeks and it remains to be that we respect each other and message could have been clear- “Anyone that knows me cially to all the cool journal- Reddit, highlighting her feel- ter to exercise self-care and skip seen whether Osaka, whose we are in this together.” er,” she continued on Twitter. knows I’m introverted, and ists who I may have hurt), ings of vulnerability on clay, the press conferences. next tournament is scheduled Osaka was to play Ana “More importantly, I anyone that has seen me at the I am not a natural public but then deleted her words “I announced it pre-emp- to be in Berlin in two weeks’ Bogdan in round two on would never trivialise mental tournaments will notice that speaker and get huge waves and replaced them with an tively because I do feel like the time, will play on grass, where Wednesday. Federer dares to dream as he cruises into 2nd round DPA/PA-MEDIA like I didn’t find the rhythm.” LONDON Federer will next face anoth- er familiar foe in former US ROGER Federer allowed Open champion Marin Cilic, himself to imagine he might who has slipped to 47 in the have something to offer at rankings. Federer has beaten this year’s French Open after the Croatian in two grand slam Serena Williams of the US returns the ball to Romanian Irina Begu returning to the grand slam finals but a place in the third during their women’s singles first round match at the court Philippe stage with a swagger. round will be the reward for Chatrier on Day 2 of French Open in Paris on Monday. (AFP) The 20-time Grand Slam the winner this time. champion, who turns 40 in World number two Da- August, is playing in his first niil Medvedev claimed his first Holder Swiatek, major tournament since last ever victory at Roland Garros, year’s Australian Open after beating Alexander Bublik 6-3 two knee operations. 6-3 7-5. Neither man is a fan Serena advance He rated his expectations of clay and there were plenty extremely low after losing of crowd-pleasing shots from DPA feat at the French Open. his opening match to Pablo both players, but it was Med- LONDON The British number one Andujar at the Geneva Open vedev who proved the more was defending ranking points earlier this month, with his consistent, with Bublik serv- TITLE holder Iga Swiatek and from her brilliant run to the only victory since the quarter- ing eight double faults. record-chasing Serena Wil- semi-finals at Roland Garros in finals inM elbourne in 2020 Medvedev is seeded ahead liams advanced into the sec- 2019 but has not won a match coming over Dan Evans in of 13-time champion Rafael ond round of the on any other occasion she has Doha in March. Nadal because of his higher French Open in straight played on the Parisian clay. But the picture looks differ- ranking and had joked that sets on Monday. Konta led early in the first ent now after a 6-2 6-4 6-3 tri- Switzerland’s Roger Federer serves the ball to Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin during their men’s singles first winning a match in Paris was Swiatek celebrated her set against Romanian Sorana umph over fellow veteran Denis round match at the Philippe Chatrier court on Day 2 of the French Open in Paris on Monday. (AFP) his biggest goal of the season. 20th birthday with a 6-0, 7-5 Cirstea, who beat her at the US Istomin that, if not peak Feder- The Russian said: “It feels victory over best friend Kaja Open last summer, but made er, was not a bad impression. great. But the most important is Juvan, while Williams later far too many errors thereafter “In a way I like this situa- Results (First Round) the level of tennis. I managed to beat Irina-Camelia Begu of and fell to a 7-6 (5) 6-2 defeat.