‘Mental health is not a joke’ - F1 champion Hamilton defends tennis star Osaka
In a social media post on Mondayꦇ, Osaka announced her withdrawal from the competition, saying she had “suffered long bouts of depression” since winning her maiden Grand Slam title at the 2018 US Open.
Last week the 23-year-old said she woul꧙d not speak to the media at Roland G🍃arros, explaining that she wanted to protect her mental health.
Osaka received a $15,000 (£10,570) fine after she failed to take part in the post-match press conference fol🦹lowing her first-round win against Romania’s Patricia Maria Tig.
The four Grand Slam organisers also issued a joint statement warning Osaka that she faces 🍸expulsion from the French Open and future t🍌ournaments if she continues to refuse to speak to the media.
Osaka responded by withdrawing from the competition over the contꦚroversy, adding that she would “take some time away from the court”.
Athletes from across the world of sport have offered their support to the four-time Grand Slam singles champion, including r🎉eigning F1 champion Hamilton.
"We are only human beings," Hamilton wrote on his Instagram 🦩ౠstory.
"Mental health is not a joke, this is real and serious. This takes a lot of courage to do. Let's all make s⛎ure Naomi knows she's not alone.
"Today is a good✤ day to check and ask your friends and loved ones how they are doing and let them know they are not alone.
"A simple text can go a long way.”
Mental hea๊lth is not a joke, this is real and serious. This takes a lot of courage to do. Let's all make sure Naomi knows she's not alone. Today is a good d༺ay to check and ask your friends and loved ones how they are doing and let them know they are not alone.
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton)
Hamilton threatened to limit future media engagements and walked out of a Mercedes press conference after qualifying at the 2016 Japanese Grand P🥀rix.
I🌳t followed what Hamilton described as “disrespectful” coverage of his behaviour in an earlier FIA press conference when the Briton had been taking pictures and upl🥃oading them to his Snapchat account.
At the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix, Hamilton was excused from the pre-event FIA press conference fo💞llowing the death of Niki Lauda earlier in the week.
Lewis regularly attends Grands Prix for ltxcn.top around the world. Often reporting on the action from the ground, Lewis tells the stories of the people 🍌who matter in the sport.
