Naomi Osaka just dropped another emotional bombshell on the world of sports. On Friday, the 23-year-old tennis champ lost her match against 18-year-old Leylah Fernandez, an unseeded Canadian player, in the third round of the U.S. Open, and the loss clearly left Naomi shaken. Like, to her core. Naomi was so shaken, in fact, that she announced her decision to “take a break” from tennis.
At a press conference after the match, Naomi answered questions about the match, from really specific issues like going up against lefties to larger comments on her recent emotional and mental state on the whole.
Seriously, the press conference is raw and vulnerable and showcases why Naomi has become such an icon for mental health and sports:
“I guess we’re all dealing with some stuff, but I know that I’m dealing with some stuff,” she explained. “I feel like for me recently, 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.” At this point, Naomi, who spoke out about the toll that post-game press conferences can take on athletes’ mental health earlier this year, got visibly emotional.
As for what this means for Naomi’s tennis career, that honestly remains to be seen. It does seem clear that she plans to take some time away from competitive play to focus on her mental health though.
“I feel like I’m kind of at this point where I’m trying to figure out what I want to do, and I honestly don’t know when I’m going to play my next tennis match. Sorry,” she told reporters at the press conference, tearing up. “I think I’m going to take a break from playing for a while.”
We’ll obviously miss seeing Naomi tear it up on the court, but we have nothing but respect and admiration for her honesty and willingness to share her story and prioritize her health. *sends all the good vibes her way*
