“Without the press, we will not be the athletes we are today,” Rafael Nadal’s take on Naomi Osaka skipping press conferences at French Open 2021

“Without the press, we will not be the athletes we are today,” Rafael Nadal’s take on Naomi Osaka skipping press conferences at French Open 2021

Rafael Nadal, Naomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka has been the talk around the tennis community this week, after she decided to skip the press conferences at the French Open 2021. According to the Japanese, she prefers to preserve her mental health, and believes that the pressers aim to exploit her peace of mind by asking repetitive and irrelevant questions.

On one hand, several tennis players have supported her decision, whereas, a few players have went against her decision to skip the press conference. Rafael Nadal, 13 time French Open champion is man who does his every duty with the highest possible integrity. Speaking ahead of the Roland Garros, the Spaniard believes that press conferences are a part of a player’s responsibilities, and one should not avoid them, referring to Osaka’s decision.

Rafael Nadal gives his opinion on Naomi Osaka’s decision to skip press conferences

Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka

Rafael Nadal respected Naomi Osaka’s decision to skip press conferences at French Open 2021, but on the other hand, believes that without the pressers, they would not be the athletes they are today.

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“I understand her (Naomi Osaka), but in the other hand for me, I mean without the press, without the people normally are travelling who are writing the news and achievements that we are having around the world, probably we will not be athletes we are today. We are not gonna have the same recognition that we have around the world, and we will not be that popular, no?,” said Rafael Nadal.

Rafael Nadal also spoke on the covid-19 pandemic, and believes that vaccination is only the way forward at the moment. The Spaniard is seeded third at the French Open this year, and will aim to claim his 14th title in Paris.

Rafael Nadal is in the same half of the draw as Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic at French Open 2021. The Spaniard reacted to the draw, and stated that with younger players climbing up the rankings, it was normal for it to happen.

“It’s normal. One is almost 40, me almost 35, the other is 34. The younger players are climbing the rankings,” he added.

Also Read: REVEALED! Rafael Nadal’s potential path to his 14th French Open title