The decision of female tennis star, Naomi Osaka, to withdraw from the French Open has attracted support from Nike and other major sponsors.
The four-time major champion’s withdrawal from the tournament which was borne out of her struggle with depression was applauded by the sports apparel company.
This development was disclosed in a statement on Monday by the company who signed a sponsorship deal with Osaka in 2019.
Nike said, “Our thoughts are with Naomi. We support her and recognize her courage in sharing her own mental health experience,”
The tournament also called Roland Garros, fined her $15,000 for not speaking to the media following her first round match on Sunday, after Osaka’s decision to pull out of the competition.
Osaka’s decision not participate in any news conferences at the tournament was announced on Twitter last Wednesday.
Going memory lane, since she won her first Grand Slam title in 2018, she disclosed that she has “suffered long bouts of depression.”
