Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Venus Williams Offers Mic Drop Response On How She Deals With Press After Naomi Osaka's French Open Exit

Venus Williams Offers Mic Drop Response On How She Deals With Press After Naomi Osaka's French Open Exit
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Venus Williams weighed in over the controversy surrounding four-time Grand Slam singles champion Naomi Osaka's decision to back out of appearing in press conferences at the French Open.

After fines were levied and Osaka was attacked in the press by people like Piers Morgan, the young tennis star opted to withdraw from the tournament.



Osaka explained her decision on social media and admitted she has struggled with "long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018" and experienced "huge waves of anxiety" from the pressures of press conferences.

She eventually withdrew from the tournament after being fined $15,000 for skipping a post-match press conference after her first-round victory.

The Grand Slam rulebook dictates players are required to attend press conferences, but the 23-year-old Haitian/Japanese pro tennis player believes the mandatory protocol is outdated.

Her decision to drop out triggered quite a stir on social media.

She gained support from fellow athletes but simultaneously sparked a debate on the approach to protecting the mental health of professional athletes who face scrutiny from the press while focusing on their competitive performances.

Williams shared her own experiences and coping mechanisms when facing reporters.

At a post-match press conference following her first-round loss to Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova, Williams told the press:

"For me personally, how I cope, how I deal with it, was that I know every single person asking me a question can't play as well as I can and never will."

The former number 1 in both singles and doubles added:

"So no matter what you say, or what you write, you'll never light a candle to me."


Twitter was here for her response.








A day earlier, Williams' sister, Serena—who lost the women's title in the 2018 U.S. Open final match against Osaka—also empathized with what Osaka was going through.

"I feel for Naomi. Not everyone is the same. I'm thick. Other people are thin. Everyone is different and everyone handles things differently."

Last Wednesday, Osaka explained why she made the decision not to speak to the press.

I've watched many clips of athletes breaking down after a loss in the press room, and I know you have as well."
"I believe that whole situation is kicking a person while they're down and I don't understand the reasoning behind it."


Following Osaka's withdrawal from the tournament, the leaders of the four Grand Slam tournaments—which include the French Open, Wimbledon, U.S. Open, and Australian Open—issued a statement on Tuesday offering support for Osaka after they initially threatened to possibly suspend or disqualify her.

"On behalf of the Grand Slams, we wish to offer Naomi Osaka our support and assistance in any way possible as she takes time away from the court," read the statement.

"She is an exceptional athlete and we look forward to her return as soon as she deems appropriate."
"Mental health is a very challenging issue, which deserves our utmost attention. It is both complex and personal, as what affects one individual does not necessarily affect another."
"We commend Naomi for sharing in her own words the pressures and anxieties she is feeling and we empathize with the unique pressures tennis players may face."

More from Trending

Kid Rock
Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

Kid Rock Dragged After Donning A Truly Over-The-Top Outfit For His White House Visit

Singer Kid Rock was slammed for wearing a loud patriotic costume inside the Oval Office as Republican President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday against ticket scalping.

The rocker's outfit consisted of a red, white, and blue jacket emblazoned with two eagles facing each other above the American flag with the number 250, a nod to America's upcoming 250th anniversary, and white stars on his sleeves.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Bill Cassidy
CNBC

MAGA Senator Just Said The Quiet Part Out Loud With Epic Freudian Slip About Medicare

Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy was widely mocked following his inconvenient slip of the tongue during a CNBC interview as he mused about finding ways to "cut" Medicare before quickly correcting himself.

The exchange occurred after host Rebecca Quick pressed Louisiana Republican and former physician Bill Cassidy on how his party intended to fund the “trillion-dollar tax cuts” sought by President Donald Trump.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Tim Sheehy
CNN

GOP Senator Gets Blunt Reality Check After Comparing Trump Tariff 'Pain' To Home Renovation

Montana Republican Senator Tim Sheehy was criticized after he tried to compare the "short-term pain" of President Donald Trump's tariffs to home renovation, a claim so ridiculous that CNN's Kaitlan Collins quickly pushed back on the analogy.

Trump has repeatedly referred to April 2 as “Liberation Day,” pledging to impose tariffs—taxes on imports—to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign goods. He has framed these tariffs as “reciprocal,” aiming to match the duties other nations place on American exports.

Keep ReadingShow less
Susan Crawford; Elon Musk
Scott Olson/Getty Images (left and right)

Liberal Wisconsin Judge Calls Out Elon Musk In Victory Speech—And It's Everything

Liberal judge Susan Crawford called out billionaire Elon Musk in her victory speech after winning a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, basking in successfully beating her Republican opponent Brad Schimel and ensuring that the nonpartisan court’s narrow 4-3 liberal majority remains intact despite Musk's efforts to sway the race.

Musk fueled the high-stakes race, having poured more than $20 million into supporting Schimel, according to state campaign records. That includes $3 million to the state Republican Party—$2 million of which was donated just last week. Due to state election laws, large contributions must be funneled through political parties before reaching candidates.

Keep ReadingShow less

People Describe The Worst 'Bonus' They've Ever Gotten At Work

Most of us have worked at one problematic workplace, with reasons ranging from toxic coworkers to terrible bosses to unlivable pay. Sometimes, it feels like a joke that the employees are even being paid at all!

But the biggest joke of all might be the end-of-year bonus, or lack thereof. They're at times so laughable, they take the cake for horrible work conditions, or are quite literally, a slice of cake.

Keep ReadingShow less