DUBLIN, Ohio – Bubba Watson studied the headline with particular curiosity:
“Naomi Osaka withdraws from French Open, will ‘take some time away’ from tennis after controversy over media obligations.”
In what has become a surprisingly polarizing issue, Watson is one of a very few who can truly understand what motivated Osaka to skip her media obligations this week at Roland-Garros and then withdraw from the Grand Slam event.
Osaka spoke of dealing with depression and anxiety and how interactions with the media created unwanted doubt. She spoke of being vulnerable and not a “natural public speaker.