
Serena Williams offered her support to Naomi Osaka on Monday after the Japanese playerās decision to withdraw from the French Open in the wake of her boycott of press conferences.
In a statement on Monday, Osaka said she did not want her stance to become a distraction and said that she had been dealing with mental health issues since 2018.
Williams, 39, was inevitably asked for her reaction to Osakaās decision following her first-round win over Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu.
āHonestly I just found out before I walked into the press conference. So, thatās the extent of it right now for me,ā Williams told reporters.
Pushed for her opinion on Osakaās claim last week that post-match media conferences were damaging her mental well-being, and Mondayās unexpected development, Williams said: āThe only thing I feel is that I feel for Naomi.
āI feel like I wish I could give her a hug because I know what itās like. Like I said, Iāve been in those positions.
āWe have different personalities, and people are different.
āNot everyone is the same. Iām thick (skinned). Other people are thin. Everyone is different and everyone handles things differently.
āYou just have to let her handle it the way she wants to, in the best way she thinks she can, and thatās the only thing I can say. I think sheās doing the best that she can.ā
Williams said it was important for players to have someone to use as a āsounding boardā in tough times.
āYou have to be able to make an effort and say, I need help with A, B, C and D, and talk to someone,ā she said.
āWhether itās someone at the WTA or whether itās someone in your life. Maybe itās someone that you just talk to on a weekly basis. Iāve been in that position, too.
āIāve definitely had opportunities to talk to people, kind of get things off my chest that I canāt necessarily talk to anyone in my family or anyone that I know.ā


