Asian Fortune Your source for all things Asian American
By Jennie L. Ilustre
The saying “One person can make a difference” holds true with Naomi Osaka, the world’s No. 2 champion and, according to Forbes magazine, “the highest paid female athlete ever.”
On the tennis court, biracial Osaka has been an advocate of Black Lives Matter, winning praise for wearing face masks with the names of black victims of human rights injustice. When Osaka resumes playing tennis in the Tokyo Olympics, which starts on July 23, she will again put the spotlight on her advocacy for the mental health of athletes.
This is noteworthy because, as the Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA) pointed out, a 2016 study found that “30% of the female athletes surveyed reported symptoms of depression, and found symptoms of anxiety and eating disorders were unaddressed.”
The tennis world will never be the same again after the young champion shone a spotlight in May on tennis organizers’ indifference to the mental health of players.
On May 31, Osaka announced at the French Open tournament that she was not taking part in the post-game press conference. Being an introvert, she cited the feeling of anxiety in facing the media, as well as reporters’ repeated questions when she loses a game, leading to self-doubts of her abilities as a player.
Osaka revealed in a social media post that since winning the 2018 U.S. Open, she has dealt with “long bouts of depression.” Experts say sudden fame and fortune can be overwhelming. In 2018 at age 20, Osaka stunned the world when she defeated tennis great Serena Williams. The crowd was rooting for Williams, who was chasing her 24th Grand Slam singles title. Osaka was in tears after winning. Williams comforted her.
Osaka has been ranked No. 1 by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and is the first Asian player to hold the top ranking in singles, according to wikipedia. She is a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, and is the reigning champion at the U.S. Open and the Australian Open with back-to-back wins.
Backlash
The French tennis officials promptly fined Osaka $15,000 for “choosing not to honor her contractual media obligations” in skipping the press conference. Organizers of the world’s major tournaments issued a statement that Osaka’s participation in the four tournaments would be affected.
The backlash against the French tennis officials and the four major organizers was loud and swift. It prompted them to soften their stand, consider players’ mental well-being, and to wish her well. Osaka also received wide support from fellow tennis players, tennis sponsors like Nike, celebrities from other sports and in showbiz, fans and the media.
Osaka apologized to the French Open officials and said she was taking time off for her well-being. She added that “when the time is right, I really want to work with the Tour to discuss ways we can make things better for the players, press and fans.”
There are four annual major tennis tournaments: Wimbledon, French Open, the U.S. Open, and the Australian Open. In June, Osaka stunned the tennis world when she announced she was also pulling out of the Wimbledon tournament, the most prestigious tennis tournament.
Courage
Juliet K. Choi, president and CEO, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum said in an email: “We celebrate Naomi Osaka for elevating what it means and looks like to stand in allyship with one another, and we applaud her for her courage and raw honesty in taking a stand and demonstrating what it can look like to take care and advocate for oneself.”
“Far too often, unnecessary stigma prevents our neighbors, friends and especially our loved ones from seeking the mental health care they need and deserve,” she pointed out. “The Covid-19 pandemic and unrelenting surge of anti-Asian violence continues to illuminate the mental health stressors so many are experiencing.”
The Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA) supported Osaka’s decision. Its leaders said: “Osaka risked her professional career and her income with this decision to advocate for her personal mental health and that of her fellow athletes, especially in the face of toxic and oppressive workplace policies.
As a biracial Black and Japanese woman, she has previously and continues to face racism and sexism from the media, both at home and on the world stage.”
Osaka was born in Japan to a Haitian father and Japanese mother. She came to the U.S. at age three to live with her grandparents and to train in tennis.
Timely Issue
APPA leaders stressed in a statement that Osaka’s advocacy would make a huge difference in addressing the issue of mental health, particularly during the pandemic. “Her openness about her mental health draws attention to mental health conditions that are experienced by many people. There are an estimated 41.5% of adults in the U.S. who have had recent symptoms of depressive and anxiety disorder (CDC, 2021) and 62% of Asian Americans–alarmingly–report unmet mental health needs (Saw et al., 2021).”
APPA leaders noted Osaka’s actions highlight the barriers that exist, even for highly successful professionals, to establish boundaries to protect their mental health.
“Women of color experience a complex intersection of racist and sexist experiences in the workplace, especially when they are treated as a token representative of a marginalized group,” they stressed. “Being a racialized token in any context, and especially in highly visible positions, makes one especially vulnerable to experiencing racialized trauma on a regular basis.” Osaka’s experience mirrors this research.
Remarked Juliet K. Choi, president and CEO, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum: “As an organization that advocates for health equity and policies that advance the well-being of underserved and underrepresented communities, we know first-hand how difficult it is for women, and women of color, to speak out about the importance of mental health.”
She added: “Let’s take this opportunity to shine the spotlight on eliminating the stigma in seeking mental health care, and demonstrate our resounding support for those who have the gumption to take a stand, and take good care of mind and body.”
Huffpost news site writer Monica Torres commended Osaka for making a difference. “At a young age, Osaka sees the value in herself beyond what corporate interests earn from her play. By speaking up and setting boundaries for her mental health, she is charting a new path for herself, the tennis stars who will come after her, and all the fans who see themselves in her.”
