French Open organizers defend stance in handling of Naomi Osaka

French Open organizers are defending their "pragmatic" approach in handling Naomi Osaka's media boycott and subsequent withdrawal at Roland Garros. 

"We did it the right way," French tennis federation president Gilles Moretton said at a news conference on the final day of the tournament, according to The Associated Press (h/t ESPN). 

Osaka withdrew from Roland Garros after she was fined $15,000 for skipping a news conference after her first-round victory over Patricia Maria Tig. The 23-year-old was also threatened with disqualification if she continued not to speak with the media. 

Osaka said before the French Open that she would not speak with the press and wanted to take a stand against the impact of interviews on the psychological welfare of all players.

Amelie Oudea-Castera, the French tennis federation director general, said organizers tried to engage with Osaka several times before she decided to withdraw, adding that they just wanted to remind her of the rules. 

"There is a specific book explaining that. And when you regularly default your obligations without giving specific explanations in particular, you expose yourself to a default or more permanent sanction," Oudea-Castera said. "We wanted her to know because it was a way to protect her to explain that to her."

Oudea-Castera also acknowledged that tennis officials can do better in dealing with players' mental health struggles in the future. 

After Osaka was fined and withdrew from the tournament, professional athletes worldwide voiced their support for her. NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace even said he could "totally relate to" Osaka opening up about her mental health.