Naomi Osaka exposes sports' mental-health risks with French Open exit

An estimated one-third of athletes suffer at some point from a mental-health crisis that manifests as depression and anxiety, eating disorders and burnout, according to studies cited by academics and

Naomi Osaka’s decision to quit the French Open, citing the anxiety she feels over holding news conferences, is bringing more awareness to the issue of mental health in sports.
 

The dispute between the second-ranked women’s tennis player and tournament officials over mandatory press appearances has dominated headlines in recent days. At the same time, Osaka’s frank explanation of her challenges has put the spotlight on a seldom-discussed issue among athletes of her caliber. “The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since the U.S. Open in 2018,” Osaka, 23, wrote in a post on Twitter.
 

An estimated