“Like pouring salt into a wound,” Naomi Osaka in an essay described her woes talking to media straight after loss
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Naomi Osaka (IMAGO / ZUMA Wire)
Naomi Osaka, who is known for her prowess on the court, is also known for her shy attitude off it. She does not like to talk to the media, especially after a loss. This is very visible in her interaction with journalists.
The four-time Grand Slam champion became so anxious talking to the media that she decided to not come before the media during the 2021 French Open. This led to Roland Garros fining her. Eventually, she decided to forfeit the tournament altogether.
She has written an essay recently, in which she has noted her fears and how difficult she finds dealing with them. This is an excerpt describing her state of mind when she lost a match and have to talk to media persons who are waiting with their questions.
“One of the most difficult parts was, directly following a defeat, to have to go into the press room and talk to the media, answering questions about why I played poorly or what I could have done better, and to be asked, ‘How does it feel?’ to have just lost the match. None of those conversations are enjoyable, but especially not on the heels of a loss. It’s like pouring salt into a wound,” She is reported to have written.
“The sheer weight of the outcome of a match made me realize I needed to take a step back and create a new metric for success, as hyper-fixating on wins and losses was damaging to my mental health as well as to my love of the game,” she continued.
Naomi Osaka made only a few appearances on the court throughout this season. She played her last match at the 2022 Toray Pan Pacific Open.
Naomi Osaka is highest-paid female athlete in 2022
The 4-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka may have not had a successful season but she still was able to amass a whopping $52 million fortune this year. She featured in the Top 10 of the List of Top 100 Highest Paid Athletes in the World in 2022. She is the highest-paid female tennis player and athlete in the world for the year 2022.
The 2-time US Open champion has partnered with brands such as FTX, Sweetgreen, Hyperice, Modern Health, and Autograph, amongst others. These brands offered her equity share. As the business of these companies grew, the Japanese player also profited from it. She has also launched her agency called Evolve.
Serena Williams who retired after playing her last match at the 2022 US Open, minted $35 million this year. She ranks second after the 4-time Grand Slam champion as the highest-paid female athlete. Emma Raducanu, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Ashleigh Barty, and Leylah Annie Fernandez also feature in the list.
Also Read: Venus Williams running favorite for US Davis Cup team Captain amidst Mardy Fish’s rumored exit
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