Daily US Times: World number two ranked tennis player Naomi Osaka faces expulsion from the French Open and future Grand Slams if she continues to refuse to speak to the media, organisers said.
Last week, Osaka said she will not give any news conferences during Roland Garros because she wants to protect her mental health.
The Japanese tennis star was fined $15,000 for not doing media after Sunday’s first-round win over Romania’s Patricia Maria Tig.
The second seed won 6-4 7-6 (7-4).
A joint statement from the four Grand Slam organisers said Naomi Osaka also faces “more substantial fines and future Grand Slam suspensions”.
Osaka tweeted later on Sunday “change makes people uncomfortable”.
The Grand Slams added that following Naomi Osaka’s announcement on Wednesday, Roland Garros teams asked the tennis star to reconsider her position and were unsuccessful in their attempts to check on her wellbeing.
After a “lack of engagement” from the Japanese, the Grand Slam organisers wrote to her to offer support, as well as to “remind her of her obligations”.
The statement said: “A core element of the Grand Slam regulations is the responsibility of the players to engage with the media, whatever the result of their match, a responsibility which players take for the benefit of the sport, the fans and for themselves.”
“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.”
The Grand Slams said that the rules exist “to ensure all players are treated exactly the same”.
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