SUMMARY
- Naomi Osaka has lent her voice to many important causes, including mental health.
- She got into a bit of argument with a fan over an incident online.
Naomi Osaka is one of the best tennis players around, and she is still adjusting to the rigors of the tour after her comeback. Osaka is a four-time Grand Slam champion, and she uses her platform to talk about several issues, including mental health. Usually very soft-spoken, however, Naomi got into a verbal duel with a fan on social media recently.
Osaka has often lent her voice to many important causes throughout her career. From the Black Lives Matter movement to mental health, Naomi has used her influence to spread awareness. Such is her impact that it has transcended the boundaries of the tennis court.
However, she got into a bit of an argument with a fan online over something that happened a few years ago. The user wondered, “Is this the same Naomi Osaka” who refused to talk to the media.
Clock them pic.twitter.com/roe0VP4h2u
— Melanie Lautrup (@melanie_lautrup) February 28, 2024
Osaka shared a screenshot of the rather distasteful comment on Instagram. She hit back at the user, asking why they got worked up over something that happened three years ago.
The incident in question took place in 2021, ahead of the French Open. Naomi had put out a statement that she would not attend press conferences to protect her mental health. This started a storm, and after she skipped the interview after her first-round win, the organizers fined her $15,000, and she ultimately withdrew from the tournament.
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 31, 2021
Naomi Osaka has always been very open about her struggles with depression since winning the US Open in 2018. She defeated Serena Williams to claim her maiden major title, but she also fought an unseen battle. The former world No. 1 is in a better place now and even engages with everyone more often. As for her argument with the fan, she let Beyonce be her ultimate guide.
How did Beyonce guide Naomi Osaka?
Beyonce is a global icon and has been an inspiration to many, including Naomi. So when the tennis star was in a dilemma, she turned to her favorite singer.
Naomi is an avid fan of Beyonce, and she even attended the ‘Renaissance’ World Tour concert in California in December 2023. Beyonce, too, had words of encouragement for the player after she crashed out of the US Open in 2019.
After her online altercation with the fan on Instagram, Naomi deleted the post. She reasoned that it was something Beyonce would do. “Had to delete because WWBD [what would Beyonce do] and I know Beyonce would’ve been disappointed,” she wrote.
Naomi Osaka was away from tennis for almost a year due to her pregnancy. She is still coming to grips with the tournaments, but she has shown glimpses of her past self. Osaka will hope to get back into the swing of the tour as the season progresses.