Naomi Osaka now doing her first normal press conference since May. #CincyTennis
Well, that went well for a while, until it didn't.
Four Qs or so went smoothly, Naomi was doing well. Then someone from Cincinnati Enquirer asked her a fairly aggressively toned question about how she benefits from a high-media profile but doesn't like talking to media. Osaka tried to engage, but after her answer began crying.
The WTA moderator paused the press conference. Osaka left the room, recollected herself, and returned to answer the remaining question in English.
Osaka then answered Japanese Qs to complete her press conference. This was deeply frustrating. The tennis media people who know Naomi (and whom Naomi knows) had it going smoothly, and then a local reporter completely derailed it. Don't blame this on "tennis media" again, folks.
The topic itself wasn't terrible, but the aggressive tone from an unfamiliar person, after Naomi had already spoken in an earlier answer about how that's what she finds difficult in press conferences, got things going completely awry. (Naomi had many good moments otherwise!)
It was Paul Daugherty of The Enquirer, Wendy. x.com/tristanbckup/s…
It was Paul Daugherty of The Enquirer, Wendy. x.com/tristanbckup/s…
Naomi Osaka's agent Stuart Duguid: "The bully at the Cincinnati Enquirer is the epitome of why player / media relations are so fraught right now. Everyone on that Zoom will agree that his tone was all wrong and his sole purpose was to intimidate. Really appalling behavior."(1/2)
@BenRothenberg @EnquirerDoc has the right, if not an obligation, to ask tough questions as does anyone else in a presser. Bully? Doubtful. Check his background. Read his columns; read his book on his daughter with Downs Syndrome. More likely than most to grasp mental health issues.