Naomi Osaka would be the first to tell you she isn’t good on clay. And she’s right; in 89 career matches on the surface, she has managed to win only 52 times. Ask her why, however, and she would be stumped. “I’m not sure if it’s because I need to play longer on it or if I just haven’t grown up on it,” she said just before she crashed out of the Internazionali BNL D’Italia in Rome three weeks ago. It was supposed to be a jump-off point for her French Open campaign; instead, it proved to be a one-and-done affair that further underscored her weaknesses in dealing with slow pace.
To be sure, Osaka entered Roland Garros this week as a long shot. In her appearances between notable no shows in 2015 and last year, she went in and out once and survived only until the third round in the three other instances. And, as if to highlight the obvious, she lasted all of two matches in the Mutua Madrid Open prior to her cameo appearance in Italy. She may be ranked second in the world, but she’s far from invincible on clay.
Which, in a nutshell, was why Osaka headed into the French open determined to focus on her game. She announced early on that she would not be making herself available for the requisite media interviews, contending that doing so opens her up more to self-doubt. Having long been open about her intrinsic shyness despite her successes under the klieg lights, she acknowledged the need for her to address her mental health issues, and decisively.
Unfortunately, officials of the sport were not kind to Osaka’s plight. Insisting on the need for players to fulfill media obligations, French Open honchos docked her $15,000 for missing her date with scribes after her laborious opening-round win, never mind that she gracefully acceded to an impromptu interview as soon as her work on Court Philippe Chatrier was done. Relative to her myriad endorsements, the value of the penalty wasn’t much. The accompanying threat, however, was hard to set aside. Decision makers in the other three Grand Slam tournaments closed ranks and said she faced further sanctions if she persisted in avoiding the press.
The development left Osaka between the proverbial rock and a hard place. Considering her options, she felt she had no choice but to withdraw from the French Open. And as she licks her wounds in private, the sport is left to wonder how it can navigate the field littered with mines. She has genuine concerns that may well force her out of competitive play should they insist on having their way. Meanwhile, any concession sets a dangerous precedent. Add the fact that she’s arguably the most popular player on tour, and the result is a combustible mix of ingredients for disaster.
Who’s to say how the sport navigates uncharted waters? No matter what the powers that be decide on, though, this much is clear: Osaka will place her fitness, or lack thereof, above all other considerations — as she should. Everybody else should take notice, and act accordingly.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
