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WEDNESday, AUGUST 18, 2021 Osaka reduced to tears during Cincinnati news conference NYT Osaka’s vulnerability, and the since she lost to to the media and through the latest thought-provoking de- in her opening match at the media to the public.” aomi Osaka’s return velopment in her 2021 season. on May 12. It was Osaka began to answer, to the news conference She has played rarely — just also Osaka’s first interview speaking carefully. “I would say Nformat after a three- six tournaments — but ignited session since the Olympics, the occasion, like, when to do month hiatus went smoothly plenty of conversation and de- during which she took on a the press conferences, is what for three questions Monday bate: raising awareness about new dimension by becoming I feel is the most difficult,” she before the WTA Tour Western the mental health of athletes the first player to light said, referring to their timing & Southern Open in Mason, while challenging the estab- the cauldron. But she con- before making several long Ohio, near Cincinnati. lished ways that they commu- tinued to struggle on court, pauses and then declining an But Osaka, the Japanese nicate with journalists. losing in the second round to opportunity from the news con- tennis star, ended up in tears af- At the in Marketa Vondrousova of the ference moderator to move on ter answering the fourth query, May, she made it clear she Czech Republic. to the next question. which came from Paul Daugh- would decline to do pretour- “The Tokyo Olympics, I’ve She asked Daugherty to erty, a sports columnist for The nament or post-match news kind of been waiting for them repeat his query. “I can only Cincinnati Enquirer. conferences, citing the need for eight years almost, because speak for myself,” she said. He questioned how she to preserve her well-being and I didn’t make it to the Rio one,” “But ever since I was younger I could balance her resistance avoid negative thoughts (she Osaka said of the 2016 Games have had a lot of media interest to news conferences with the has struggled to adapt to the in Rio de Janeiro. “I felt eve- on me, and I think it’s because fact that her outside interests clay-court surface). But that ryone started asking me about of my background, as well were “served by having a me- uncommon stance created a the Tokyo Olympics every year as how I play, because in the dia platform.” clash with French Open and from that point, so I feel very first place, I’m a tennis player. Osaka soon left the room officials. Osaka sad about how I did there but That’s why a lot of people are to compose herself while was fined $15,000 for skip- at the WTA Tour Western and Southern Open press conference in Cincinnati on Monday. also a little bit happy I didn’t interested in me, so I would the camera in use for the re- ping her press commitments lose in the first round as well say in that regards I am quite mote interview session was after her first-round victory, Biles brought more visibility needed to do for myself, and remain largely virtual because because I haven’t played.” different to a lot of people. And switched off. She returned five and was threatened with more to the subject by withdrawing more than anything I felt like of the coronavirus pandemic. Daugherty soon asked his I can’t really help that there minutes later. “Sorry for walk- fines and potential disqualifi- from several events after citing I holed up in my house for a Players participated in post- question. “You are not crazy are some things that I tweet ing out,” she said before com- cation if she continued not to her own mental health issues. couple weeks, and I was a lit- match news conferences and about dealing with us, espe- or some things that I say that pleting the news conference in comply. “I don’t trust myself as much tle bit embarrassed to go out interviews at Wimbledon, a cially in this format,” he said. kind of create a lot of news ar- shortened form. It was a hard line, and she as I used to,” Biles explained. because I didn’t know if peo- major tournament that Osaka “Yet you have a lot of outside ticles or things like that.” Her agent, Stuart Duguid, withdrew before her second- Osaka said on Monday that ple were looking at me in a skipped. interests that are served by Osaka said she was “not was upset. round match in Paris, explain- she had texted Biles during the different way than they usu- But there have been con- having a media platform. I really sure how to balance the “The bully at The Cincin- ing on social media that she Games but had not spoken ally did before. But I think the tinuing discussions between guess my question is, How do two” and said to Daugherty nati Enquirer is the epitome did not want to become a dis- with her directly. “I sent her biggest eye-opener was going Osaka and her team and WTA you balance the two?” that she was “figuring it out at of why player/media relations traction. She revealed that she a message but I also want to to the Olympics and having officials and other tennis ad- Osaka hesitated and asked the same time as you are.” are so fraught right now,” he had experienced depression give her space, because I know other athletes come up to me ministrators. Osaka decided Daugherty: “When you say I’m Then she began losing said in a text message. “Eve- since winning her first Grand how overwhelming it can feel,” and say they were really glad to meet with the news media not crazy about dealing with you composure, wiping her eyes ryone on that Zoom will agree Slam singles title at the 2018 Osaka said. I did what I did. So, after all before her opening match guys, what does that refer to?” and lowering her visor as the that his tone was all wrong, U.S. Open. Osaka was asked whether that I’m proud of what I did, at the Western & Southern Daugherty answered, next question was asked by and his sole purpose was to in- She returned to her home she was “proud of being brave” and I think it’s something that Open, which is scheduled for “Well, you’ve said you don’t another reporter, and she soon timidate.” in Los Angeles and did not play in Paris. needed to be done.” Wednesday against either especially like the news confer- left the room. Osaka returned, That was a matter of opin- again until the Olympics last “In that moment I wasn’t No significant changes or Hsieh Su-wei. ence format, yet that seems to but it remains unclear what ion. But the scene was with- month in Tokyo, where Amer- really proud,” she answered. have been made yet to player- The news conference on be obviously the most widely approach she will take going out a doubt the latest sign of ican gymnastics star Simone “I felt it was something I reporter interactions, which Monday was Osaka’s first used means of communicating forward.

Bayern strike back with Kvitova ousts Super Cup triumph Keys at rainy DPA threat in attack, earned a de- full back , whose cued his flick, Mueller was left Western and Dortmund (Germany) served first win at the club for giveaway led to Kingsley with an open goal. Nagelsmann and also brought Coman shooting over. Lewandowski did score Goals from Robert Lewan- his maiden title as coach. Reus had a shot saved but his second second, in the Southern Open dowski and Thomas Mueller Lewandowski’s thumping in the first half Haaland was 74th, when returning substi- gave Bayern Munich a de- 41st minute header broke the hardly a factor other than set- tute blocked served 3-1 Super Cup triumph deadlock and Mueller, with ting up to Akanji’s pass into his path and away to a tap-in straight after the re- score when well offside. he finished coolly. on Tuesday and acted as a start doubled the lead. Dortmund had a massive With nothing to lose Dort- timely reminder the champi- Dortmund replied through let-off when Mueller and Le- mund had been pushing for- ons will not give up their Bun- a brilliant goal from Marco wandowski were blocked from ward and 10 minutes earlier desliga title without a fight. Reus midway through the sec- Joshua Kimmich’s quick free- were rewarded through Reus’ Bayern were held to a draw ond half but a hideous error kick but fell behind shortly be- shot curled into the top corner Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic celebrates after at Borussia Moenchenglad- from let Le- fore the break. from outside the box. beating Madison Keys 7-5, 6-4 during the Western & bach in last weekend’s league wandowski complete his brace Passlack bore the brunt as It came after Haaland had Southern Open - Day 2 at Lindner Family Tennis Center opener as a bumpy start un- and seal matters. a hopeful ball to Haaland was a goal rightly disallowed for in Mason, Ohio, on Monday. (Getty Images/AFP) der new coach Julian Nagels- Both sides and the 25,000 returned down his flank with a marginal offside but with mann continued while Dort- fans attending under corona- interest. ’s quick Dortmund’s momentum halted mund – under their own new virus rules observed a min- feet made space and his cross Bayern lifted the trophy for the Andy Murray makes triumphant return, goes past Gasquet boss Marco Rose – thrashed ute’s silence for Bayern legend was met by the unstoppable sixth time in the last decade. . But an Gerd Mueller, who died aged Lewandowski. And in the 49th Whether it is a signal DPA 6-3 7-6 (7-3) in a match that since Wimbledon, rolling to a improved display from Bay- 75 on Sunday, and the players minute it was full back Alphon- of what is to come in their Berlin finished shortly before 1am straight-sets win over Richard ern, tightening at the back to wore black armbands. so Davies who took advantage bid for a record-extending local time. Gasquet at the Western and largely keep Bayern made the quicker down Passlack’s wing to cross 10th title remains Petra Kvitova was one of a Though only Krejcikova Southern Open. quiet while being a constant start to immediately expose and though Lewandowski mis- to be seen. handful of seeded players to take was in action Monday, the Murray defeated the vet- the court at the Western and field in Cincinnati includes eran Frenchman 6-4 6-4 on a Southern Open on Monday and nine of the top 10 players in rainy opening day in Cincin- came away victorious against a the rankings, led by Ashleigh nati, capitalising on a strong past champion of the event. Barty and Naomi Osaka in service game to advance. The 11th-seeded Kvitova their first appearances since Murray had 14 aces to just defeated 2019 Western and the Tokyo Olympics. two double faults and won 81 Southern winner Madison In other matches on the per cent of points on his first Keys 7-5 6-4 on a rain-plagued first day of play, Heather Wat- serve while saving four of the opening day of main-draw son defeated Aliaksandra Sas- five break points he faced. play at the tournament outside novich 6-2 3-6 6-1, while Paula A two-time champion at Cincinnati, Ohio. Badosa outlasted Petra Martic the ATP 1000 event, he will The Czech saved eight of 4-6 6-4 7-6 (11-9) in a two- face the winner of Tuesday’s nine break points against her hour, 34-minute marathon. match between Alejandro serve while breaking Keys breezed Davidovich Fokina and ninth three times, and that was past 6-2 6-0, Je- seed Hubert Hurkacz in the enough to pull out the victory. lena Ostapenko beat Tamara second round. Kvitova’s compatriot Bar- Zidansek 7-5 6-1 and Jil Teich- Two players who shared bora Krejcikova, the ninth mann downed Sorana Cirstea a birthday Monday also pre- seed, made her singles debut at 6-2 6-0. vailed on their big day. the WTA 1000 event with a 6-3 beat 6-2 6-2, On the day he turned 20, 6-2 rout of . with matching 11th seed Jannik Sinner de- Fifteenth seed Elise that scoreline in a defeat of feated Federico Delbonis 6-2 Mertens also was a straight- Leylah Fernandez. 7-5, while 10th seed Diego sets winner, taking down Na- Schwartzman had to work a dia Podoroska 6-3 6-4, while Murray moves up bit harder on his 28th birth- Bayern Munich’s German goalkeeper lifts the trophy after the German Supercup match against BVB Borussia Dortmund in 13th seed de- Andy Murray looked sharp day to down Daniel Evans 6-2 Dortmund on Tuesday. Bayern Munich won 3-1. (AFP) feated in his first singles match 4-6 6-3.