Naomi Osaka Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports

World No. 2 Naomi Osaka withdraws from French Open amid media boycott

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 5/31/21

Naomi Osaka is withdrawing from the French Open just five days after announcing she would not speak to the press during the tournament. The Japanese tennis star said she never wanted her decision to be a distraction and reiterated her struggles with depression.

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— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 31, 2021

Osaka's decision to withdraw comes after she was fined $15,000 for refusing to speak with the media following 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.

The world No. 2 was supposed to take on Ana Bogdan in the second round.

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