Tennis fans react to moment when Naomi Osaka was heckled by spectator at BNP Open
Tennis star, Naomi Osaka, was rattled during her match at BNP Paribas Open on Saturday night after a woman in the stands yelled “Naomi, you suck!”
It happened in the second round, in which Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam Champion, eventually went on to lose 6-0, 6-4.
Spectators reacted to the derogatory remark and Osaka asked the chair umpire to ask that something be done. But the umpire explained that they could not pinpoint the heckler and nothing could be done.
“I think that’s very inappropriate, for anybody to say that about anybody from any country,” said spectator Richard Sharp.
Fans who were at that match, and those watching from home, called the remark unnecessary and disrespectful.
“It’s a shame, she comes here to play her best and to have it ruined just from someone’s words like I think it’s a huge shame and she tanked after that so it cost her potentially another tournament," said spectator Pete Chang.
Osaka is known as a big advocate for mental health. Last year, she withdrew from multiple tournaments citing mental health.
“It’s just a lot of pressure already being out there and everyone knowing she’s in a tough spot. And then having someone do that is just really sad, it’s disheartening," said spectator Suzanne Burdge.
After the match, Osaka spoke to the crowd with tears in her eyes.
"I've gotten heckled before. It didn't really bother me, " Osaka told the crowd, "...heckled here, like, I've watched a video of Venus and Serena (Williams) getting heckled here and if you've never watched it, you should watch it. I don't know why, but it went into my head and it got replayed a lot. I'm trying not to cry."
The Williams sisters were heckled by fans at Indian Wells in 2001. Venus withdrew, with a knee injury, from her scheduled semifinal against Serena shortly before it was to begin. When Venus and their father Richard took their seats to watch Serena in the final against Kim Clijsters, the crowd began booing. As the match went on, fans jeered Serena. Their father said he was the target of racial slurs. The sisters boycotted the tournament for years before eventually returning.
Serena Williams said the incident "haunted" her "for a long time.: She described the long-lasting impact the incident caused and why she decided to return in a 2015 article for Time magazine.
The undercurrent of racism was painful, confusing and unfair. In a game I loved with all my heart, at one of my most cherished tournaments, I suddenly felt unwelcome, alone and afraid.
Serena Williams: I'm Going Back to Indian Wells (Time, 2015)
Osaka has said she struggled with depression after winning the 2018 U.S. Open in a controversial final against Serena Williams. She withdrew from last year’s French Open to tend to her mental health.
As the tournament was beginning in Indian Wells, Osaka had tweeted "it’s nice to back."
After 2 years it’s nice to back 🥰🎾🌴 @BNPPARIBASOPEN pic.twitter.com/4wWVWhXZfs
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) March 6, 2022
Therapist and Mental Wellness Coach Dr. Armando Gonzalez regularly works with elite athletes. He says an incident like Osaka’s is very traumatizing for them.
“It's very easy for a lot of the trauma that she's experienced to be re-triggered,” he said.
Gonzalez said being under a spotlight, makes it even more difficult for athletes.
“We put intense amounts of pressure and scrutiny on athletes to perform. We forget they're human beings at the end of the day.”
How can we as people from the outside help? He says it’s simple- "For any human being that's going through mental health struggles, even if we don't understand what they're going through the response always should be compassion and empathy.”
