Oscar J. Barroso / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images
Venus Williams says it’s “definitely
not easy to do press” for anyone in the wake of Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal from the 2021 French Open.
Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam
singles champion, was asked how she has coped with media attention
and requirements in her 26-year tennis career.
“For me personally, how I deal with it
was that I know every single person asking me a question can’t play
as well as I can and never will, so no matter what you say or write,
you’ll never light a candle to me,” she told reporters Tuesday. “So
that’s how I deal with it, but each person deals with it
differently.”
Osaka announced Monday she was removing
herself from the French Open field and taking “some time away from
the court” after being fined $15,000 for not appearing for a press
conference after her first-round win over Patricia Maria Tig.
The 23-year-old Japanese star said before the tournament she planned to skip the media
sessions, citing mental health concerns.
Tennis’ four Grand Slam tournaments
released a joint statement Tuesday saying they’d “work alongside
the players, the tours, the media and the broader tennis community to
create meaningful improvements.”
Venus’ sister, Serena Williams, was
also asked about Osaka’s decision Monday and said her own press
conferences over the years have made her “stronger”:
“I feel for Naomi. Not everyone is the same. I’m thick. Other people are thin.
Everyone is different and everyone handles things differently. You
just have to let her handle it the way she wants to and the best way
she thinks she can. That’s the only thing I can say: I think she is
doing the best she can.”
The Grand Slams’ statement didn’t
include a timetable for a potential reworking of media guidelines.
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