Paris ¨C The weeklong confrontation between Naomi Osaka, the second-ranked woman in tennis, and leaders of the sport¡¯s four Grand Slam tournaments turned bitter Monday when Osaka withdrew from the French Open citing concerns for her mental health.
The move was a dramatic turn in the high-stakes standoff between the most powerful officials in tennis and Osaka. The 23-year-old is not only the world¡¯s highest paid female athlete but a generational star who has quickly become the most magnetic figure in tennis.
¡°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,¡± Osaka said in an Instagram post.
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