French Open: Japan’s Naomi Osaka could be kicked out of tournament over media boycott

Citing mental health reasons, the four-time grand slam champion said she would not be speaking to the press at Roland Garros stadium in Paris

Osaka has been fined US$15,000 for refusing to fulfil her media commitments after a first-round victory over Romania’s Patricia Maria Tig

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Japan’s Naomi Osaka during the first-round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris on Sunday. Photo: AP

Published: 2:44am, 31 May 2021Updated: 10:45am, 31 May 2021

Naomi Osaka has been warned she faces being thrown out of the French Open should she continue her media boycott.

The four-time grand slam champion announced on social media ahead of the tournament that she would not be doing any press at Roland Garros, citing mental health reasons.

It has not gone down well with the tournament and drew an unusually punchy joint statement from the four grand slams, who threatened Osaka with severe sanctions should she not reconsider her stance.

Japan’s Naomi Osaka during her first-round match against Romania’s Patricia Maria Tig at Roland Garros stadium in Paris on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

A statement on Sunday said: “We have advised Naomi Osaka that, should she continue to ignore her media obligations during the tournament, she would be exposing herself to possible further code of conduct infringement consequences.

“As might be expected, repeat violations attract tougher sanctions including default from the tournament and the trigger of a major offence investigation that could lead to more substantial fines and future grand slam suspensions.”