By: Natasha Archary
Defending US Open Champion Naomi Osaka is the latest sports star to open up about mental health after pulling out of the French Open to focus on her negative mindset.
Putting herself under constant undue pressure has made her realise that needs to stop picking apart her performances and just be happy with trying her best.
The former world No.1 has admitted to struggling with mental health issues for years and has been her own worst critic.
“Recently I’ve been asking myself why do I feel the way I do and realise one of the reasons is because internally I think I’m never good enough,” Naomi Osaka tweeted.
She went on to further explain that, “I’ve never told myself that I’ve done a good job but I do know I constantly tell myself that I suck or I could do better.”
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) August 29, 2021
Despite her winning return to Grand Slam tennis, the 23-year old said she wants to get to a point where she can celebrate herself instead of constantly saying “why me?”
Recently, Olympic Champion Simone Biles decided to end her Tokyo Olympic ambitions to focus on her mental health.
“I tell people that I’m a perfectionist,” said Osaka, who beat US legend Serena Williams to win the first of her four Grand Slam titles at the US Open in 2018.
“I think for me something that’s less than perfection, even though it might be something great, is a disappointment. I don’t really think that’s a healthy way of thinking. So it’s something that I really want to change.”


