- Osaka pulled out of French Open after threat of a ban
- Hamilton: ‘Naomi is saying she is not well enough to do this’
Lewis Hamilton has delivered a scathing criticism of the backlash against Naomi Osaka after her withdrawal from the French Open. Hamilton, speaking before this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, praised her brave stance, condemned the organisers of the French Open for their treatment of the Japanese player after her decision not to speak to the press at the tournament and admitted he too had struggled with the demands that come with competing on a global stage.
Osaka had stated she had “suffered long bouts of depression” since winning her first grand slam title at the 2018 US Open and did not want to speak to the press at the French Open. She did not do so after her first-round win, was fined $15,000 and received a joint letter from the organisers of the four grand slam tournaments threatening her with a potential ban. A day later the 23-year-old withdrew from Roland Garros.
