Ashleigh Barty has declared herself “fit and firing” for an assault at Wimbledon but the world No.1 has stopped short of saying her body is 100 per cent right.
One of Ashleigh Barty’s leading rivals for Wimbledon,Simona Halep,has succumbed to injury,while returning Australian Nick Kyrgios confronts a familiar foe in the opening round.
Rafael Nadal has also pulled out of the Olympics after ‘listening’ to his 35-year-old body but Australia’s two headline stars are on track to represent their nation in Tokyo.
Naomi Osaka’s agent says the four-time grand slam champion will sit out Wimbledon but compete at the Tokyo Olympics.
When women dare to speak out,the haters pile on. Would they prefer them to shut up? Do they think them liars,or merely guilty of the offence of open complaint?
Of course Naomi Osaka was treated reprehensibly at the French Open. But what would happen if all players took such a defiant stance?
Superstar Naomi Osaka boycotted press conferences at the French Open before abandoning the tournament altogether. Some suspect darker forces crushed her.
Peter V’landys gets it. Phil Gould does not. And I reckon you are a work in progress,Andrew Johns.
Unlike many reporters,I don’t think Naomi Osaka ought to be compelled to give a press conference after losing a tennis match. But that’s not the real issue here.
Tennis’ four grand slam events have shifted in attitude to Naomi Osaka’s circumstances after the world No.2’s withdrawal in Paris and revelations about depression.
At least team sports give elite sportspeople a gang to help cope with the pressure,but tennis is a lonely game.