Naomi Osaka desires to take a mental break from tennis and her returning back to the sport is up in the air. Naomi was defeated at the U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows, New York on Friday by Canadian Leylah Fernandez. After this occurred, she is considering a break from tennis. The world’s third-ranked tennis star had an emotional breakdown during a news conference after her loss. At the news conference, she says “I feel like for me recently, like, when I win, I don’t feel happy. I feel more like a relief. And then when I lose, I feel very sad. I don’t think that’s normal.” Naomi began to cry and the moderator attempted to stop the media session, but she said she wanted to finish. Lastly, she says “Basically I feel like I’m kind of at this point where I’m trying to figure out what I want to do and honestly I don’t know when I’m going to play my next tennis match. I think I’m going to take a break from playing for awhile.”
Ongoing Mental Health Challenges
Back in May, Naomi took to twitter about how she has suffered long bouts of anxiety and depression since 2018. Osaka withdrew from the French Open in May and she would not play Wimbledon either back in June. She withdrew from her second major tournament in a month. Fans believe this is an ongoing cry out for help. At the U.S. Open game on Friday, Osaka slammed her racket several times, screamed and left the court in a three set loss. All that has displayed mental instability. Fans believe that therapy will be her best option.
Get Help
Readers, mental health is very serious. If you or anyone is suffering with mental health, you can reach the National Alliance on Mental Health aka The NAMI HelpLine Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m., ET.
1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or info@nami.org.
Written by Vanity LaPree’ Jenkins | IG: @victoryinvanity| Facebook: Vanity LaPree
