Mental health advocate Naomi Osaka has been a beacon of support for athletes grappling with the pressures of fame, standing alongside her own struggles. In the face of life’s harsh realities, Eugenie Bouchard recently spoke out about the challenges athletes face, resonating deeply with Osaka’s 2021 controversy, which serves as a poignant example of the immense pressures that come with public scrutiny.
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Aryna Sabalenka and Serena Williams are two athletes who are still promoting mental health awareness in sports and stressing the value of putting mental wellness in addition to physical achievement. But Naomi Osaka was a pathfinder in this discussion, making headlines in 2021 when she pulled out of the French Open, citing the negative effects of inquiries from the press on her emotional state.
Eugenie Bouchard has demonstrated her dedication to preserving her mental health by sharing her experiences navigating the negativity that frequently accompanies social media. She stated, “I can’t avoid it; the reporter will literally be like people are talking about how you’ve lost six matches in a row. How does that make you feel? Oh, you get hate on social media because you did like a non-tennis photo shoot, and then it’s like I’m forced to face it.”
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On the other hand, the reporter added about Osaka’s incident from 2021 and said, “Also, with media interviews like Naomi will still get like even more attacked in your like Environ will tell you know hey you’re doing something wrong which at the end it’s a strength to protect yourself so it looks like there’s no way out from this crisis.”
While the Canadian player agreed with the take and said, “of course,” With this, she clearly voiced her frustration over the harsh reality that athletes often feel compelled to engage with the media, highlighting the challenge of saying no despite the toll it can take on their mental health.
Last year, when Naomi Osaka was asked about the support she received for her decision to withdraw from the tournament, she candidly reflected on the emotional weight of her choice. In response to whether the decision felt difficult given her struggles, Osaka acknowledged, “I felt like it was a little bit of a hard one, but also I felt like I had to. Just because it wasn’t like a one-day decision; it was something that I was living in for a little bit.”
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However, there is a lot more to the story. Just a few months ago, Eugenie Bouchard revealed her observations regarding Naomi Osaka’s struggles since her return to tennis.
Eugenie Bouchard reveals a thought about Osaka
Earlier this year, in an interview with Tennis Channel, Bouchard stated that she thought Osaka had high standards for herself and that she would have enjoyed a more robust return to the game. “I am sure Naomi would have wanted to do better so far in her comeback,” Bouchard noted. “I know she believes in herself and has a high expectation. But it’s tough.”
She also mentioned that Osaka has participated in a number of close three-set matches, frequently narrowly missing wins. It won’t be wrong to say that this realization emphasizes the difficulties Osaka encounters in trying to recover her competitive advantage and deal with the demands of competing again.
On the other hand, Eugenie Bouchard has not officially retired from tennis and intends to stay active on both the professional tennis tour and the emerging pickleball circuit. At 30 years old, she remains determined to continue competing, despite facing setbacks in her recent career. Nevertheless, what are your thoughts on the Canadian’s recent revelation? Do let us know in the comment section below.