Pilot Lewis Hamilton came to the rescue of the tennis player. (Susan Mullen/USA Today Sports/Reuters)
by Danilo Vicente*
Japani Naomi Osaka This is the sensation of world tennis. A couple of reasons: It emerged nearly three years ago, beating sports icon Serena Williams in the US Open final (the first Asian to win a Grand Slam tournament), it has since grown a meteoric rise to second in the world rankings, inheriting an incredible is a story of overcoming racism (his father, a black Haitian, was rejected by his mother’s Japanese family) and taking a stand on important issues in society.
Now there’s another reason, and it got him out of the tennis “bubble”. Naomi withdrew from the Roland Garros tournament in France after the organization fined her $15,000 for not showing up at a post-game press conference. His attitude led to attacks and defenses all over the planet.
pilot on thursday Lewis Hamilton defended him. It wasn’t the first, it won’t be the last. Naomi claimed she was suffering from “huge waves of anxiety” and “prolonged periods of depression”. His human side has weighed on those who defend him.
proper, right, important
But there is (always there is) another side to the story. Tennis officials promise support for Naomi, but are exposed game dilemma Which is drying up, especially with the onset of the pandemic.
Tennis earns about $2 billion annually. However, in much of the world, especially in the United States, coverage of the game has been cut off from media companies. ESPN’s US viewership on tennis broadcasts fell by 47% last year. Relevant vehicles no longer send their reporters. Tennis has little renewal: For decades you’ve heard of the Williams sisters, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Naomi is an exception, the novelty that is so tempting.
And then one of the main, if not the main, attractions of Roland Garros decides not to give interviews. it means that sponsors, those who spend millions to put their marks on the backdrop and on the microphone table will not be visible.
Tournament organizers reported that Naomi was punished for isonomy. Anyone who enters the tournament has an obligation to attend the press conference, whether or not they are among the main competitors. If Naomi doesn’t need to attend these press conferences, the others don’t either. With this, a loophole is opened so that the value of these negotiations with sponsors is significantly reduced.
Is there any solution? Yes, let both sides see the other side. It is important that Naomi feels good and that her health issue is respected. However, many of the work obligations are boring and repetitive. And Naomi is a professional tennis player.
That the tennis player is perfectly healthy to be able to face questions and answers after his win or loss.
*Danilo Vicente Loures Comunicação . are managing partners of
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