Naomi Osaka struggled to hold back tears in her first press conference since returning to the WTA Tour after reportedly being asked an “aggressively toned question”.
The world No 2 pulled out of the French Open in early June citing mental health issues, having refused to attend press conferences at the tournament.
Osaka was fined by tournament organisers for her decision and has not played on the WTA Tour since.
She did attend press conferences at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, but on Monday returned to the tour ahead of playing at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati.
Osaka answered several questions before being asked about the balance between having a big media profile and not talking to the media.
Tennis reporter Ben Rothenberg said that it was “a fairly aggressively toned question” and “Osaka tried to engage, but after her answer began crying”.
The four-time Grand Slam champion could be seen lowering her cap down over her face and wiping away tears.
The press conference was then paused and Osaka left the room before returning and saying “sorry for walking out” before answering the remaining questions.
In answer to the question about her relationship with the media, Osaka said: “Ever since I was young, I have had a lot of media interest on me, and I think it’s because of my background as well as how I play. I’m a tennis player. That’s why a lot of people are interested in me.
“I would say in that regard I’m quite different to a lot of people, and I can’t really help that there are some things that I tweet or some things that I say that kind of create a lot of news articles or things like that, and I know it’s because I have won a couple of Grand Slams and I have done a lot of press conferences that these things happen.
“But I would also say, I’m not really sure how to balance the two. I’m figuring it out at the same time as you are, I would say.”
Osaka’s agent Stuart Duguid said in a statement to Rothenberg: “The bully at the Cincinnati Enquirer is the epitome of why player/media relations are so fraught right now. Everyone on that Zoom will agree that his tone was all wrong and his sole purpose was to intimidate. Really appalling behaviour.
“And this insinuation that Naomi owes her off court success to the media is a myth – don’t be so self-indulgent.”
