Women’s world number two tennis player Naomi Osaka is withdrawing from the French Open as a result of controversy over her refusal to speak to the media during the tournament.
Osaka says she was going to take some time away from court and when the time is right she would like to discuss ways that can make things better for the players, press and the fans.
On Sunday, a joint statement from Grand Slam organisers said Osaka could face expulsion from the tournament for refusing to speak to the media.
BBC reports that the 23-year-old said last week she would not do news conferences at Roland Garros to protect her mental health.
When Osaka announced her decision to avoid the press on Wednesday, she said expecting players to answer questions after a defeat amounted to "kicking a person while they're down".
