Roland Garros regret for Naomi Osaka after 2021 walkout

Former World No 1 Naomi Osaka has admitted that she could have handled her 2021 French Open ordeal better.

Osaka reached an impasse with organisers in 2021 over media commitments and would quit the Grand Slam before taking a break from the sport.

Roland Garros regrets

Despite her absence from the tour Osaka became the highest-paid woman in tennis and the second-highest earner in the sport overall behind only Roger Federer.

Osaka admitted that she felt uneasy returning to Roland Garros after last season’s walkout.

“I was just kind of worried if there would be people that like — of course I also didn’t like how I handled the situation, but I was worried that there were people that I offended in some way and I would just kind of bump into them,” she said.

“I was also very worried about this press conference because I knew I’d get a lot of questions about this.

“But, yeah, I think for me where I am right now, like I have — I wouldn’t want to say it’s like it hasn’t left my mind.

“Of course I’m still thinking about it, and I’m like kind of also prepping just in case… Yeah, for the most part, I think I’m OK.”

Naomi Osaka to play through the pain

Osaka has revealed that she isn’t at 100 per cent physically at Roland Garros.

“For me, there is no way I’m not going to play this tournament. So, of course, you kind of have to manage things,” Osaka said.

“But, at the same time, I’m going to pop a few painkillers. … I have actually played a lot of Grand Slams with something.

“So I think maybe there is a possibility I could play really good when I have an injury, because I feel like I don’t have anything to lose.”

Eurosport

Naomi Osaka faces a tough first round match against American 27th seed Amanda Anisimova at 11:00 on Monday 23 May (SAST).