Serena Williams Speaks Out with Support for Naomi Osaka After Her Withdrawal from French Open

Serena Williams has sent a message of support for Naomi Osaka after the young tennis star decided to withdraw from the 2021 French Open.

Naomi previously announced that she wouldn’t be doing press at the tournament and would accept any fines that were imposed on her. She said the press conferences were affecting her mental health as they gave her anxiety during an already stressful time. Eventually, Naomi decided to withdraw from the tournament completely after she was threatened with expulsion.

While doing her own press conference after a win in round one on Monday (May 31), Serena commented on the news.

“Honestly I just found out before I walked into the press conference, so that’s the extent of it right now for me,” Serena told reporters.

Click inside to find out what else she said…

Serena was asked about Naomi‘s comments about the press conferences affecting her mental health.

“The only thing I feel is that I feel for Naomi. I feel like I wish I could give her a hug because I know what it’s like. Like I said, I’ve been in those positions. We have different personalities, and people are different. Not everyone is the same. I’m thick [skinned]. Other people are thin. Everyone is different and everyone handles things differently,” Serena said. “You just have to let her handle it the way she wants to, in the best way she thinks she can, and that`s the only thing I can say. I think she`s doing the best that she can.”

“You have to be able to make an effort and say, I need help with A, B, C, and D, and talk to someone,” she continued. “Whether it`s someone at the WTA or whether it’s someone in your life. Maybe it’s someone that you just talk to on a weekly basis. I’ve been in that position, too. I’ve definitely had opportunities to talk to people, kind of get things off my chest that I can`t necessarily talk to anyone in my family or anyone that I know.”

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