Naomi Osaka will not speak to French Open press due to mental health impact

• Osaka says news conferences put unfair burden on players
• I'm not going to subject myself to people that doubt me'

Naomi Osaka has surprised the tennis world by declaring days before the start of the French Open that she will not conduct her mandatory media assignments during the tournament. Osaka, the world No 2, cited the effects of reporters' questions in press conferences on her mental health.

I'm writing this to say I'm not going to do any press during Roland Garros," said Osaka in a statement posted to her social media accounts. I've often felt that people have no regard for athletes' mental health and this rings true whenever I see a press conference or partake in one. We are often sat there and asked questions that we've been asked multiple times before or asked questions that bring doubt into our minds and I'm just not going to subject myself to people that doubt me."