There was worldwide support Tuesday for Japan tennis star Naomi Osaka who withdrew from the French Open this week after boycotting a news conference, being fined for doing so and then threatened with disqualification.

She had earlier said she was battling depression. "The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since the U.S. Open in 2018 and I have had a really hard time coping with that," Osaka said in a statement posted on Twitter.

"I think now the best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris," the 23-year-old winner of four Grand Slams said.

French Open organizers fined Osaka $15,000 and threatened to disqualify her from the tournament after the world No. 2 skipped a news conference following her first-round victory Sunday over Romania's Patricia Maria Tig.

The board of the four Grand Slam tournaments said Osaka had been fined for refusing to "honor her contractual media obligations" and faced suspension or expulsion from the event if she continued to snub the press.

Osaka announced on social media before the French Open she would be skipping news conferences for the sake of her mental well-being. She likened journalists' questions to "kicking a person while they're down."

Her withdrawal has generated an outpouring of support across the tennis world and beyond, with many of her peers taking to social media with encouraging messages for the player of Japanese and Haitian descent.

"I was surprised. I can't imagine what she's been going through, but I hope she doesn't regret her decision," fellow Japanese player Misaki Doi told reporters after suffering an early exit in the women's singles.

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams wrote on Instagram, "So proud of you. Take care of yourself and see you back winning soon!"

Williams's sister Serena and younger American players Coco Gauff and Sloane Stephens also chimed in with messages of support as the focus shifted from Osaka's responsibilities to her well-being.

Billie Jean King echoed comments from fellow women's tennis trailblazer Martina Navratilova about the importance of mental health.

"It's incredibly brave that Naomi Osaka has revealed her truth about her struggle with depression," King wrote on social media.

"Right now, the important thing is that we give her the space and time she needs. We wish her well."

There was some criticism of Roland Garros organizers for their handling of the matter. Meanwhile, the FFT's response to Osaka's withdrawal has been slammed as hypocritical, and pushed already raised eyebrows right beneath the hairline. Speaking to the news media in both English and French, FFT President Gilles Moretton read a four-sentence prepared statement that was subsequently published to the Roland-Garros website.

"First and foremost, we are sorry and sad for Naomi Osaka," said Moretton. "The outcome of Naomi withdrawing from Roland-Garros is unfortunate. We wish her the best and the quickest possible recovery, and we look forward to having Naomi at our tournament next year.

Osaka has claimed the U.S. and Australian open titles twice each. In May, she was named winner of the 2021 Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award after using her platform to speak out for the Black Lives Matter movement against police brutality in the United States.

Japan's Osaka, who according to sports business website Sportico earned $55.2 million over the past 12 months, is expected to be one of the biggest attractions at the Tokyo Olympics in July and August.

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