World No. 3 Naomi Osaka further expanded on her mental health one day before the start of the U.S. Open.
The two-time U.S. Open champion from Japan revealed earlier this year that she deals with anxiety and depression. She pulled out of the French Open due to a difference of opinion over required press conference obligations and skipped Wimbledon to focus on her mental health.
She said Sunday she has been digging inside herself looking for answers to her mental health issues and described herself as “extremely self-deprecating.”
“Recently I’ve been asking myself why do I feel the way I do and I realize one of the reasons is because internally I think I’m never good enough,” the 23-year-old Osaka wrote on social media. “I never tell myself that I’ve done a good job but I do know I constantly tell myself that I suck or I could do better.
“I know in the past some people have called me humble but if I really consider it I think I’m extremely self deprecating.”
The third-seeded Osaka said she has set a goal to be more positive with herself — particularly with her self-talk and with opinions from outsiders.
“Your life is your own and you shouldn’t value yourself on other people’s standards,” Osaka wrote. “I know I give my heart to everything I can and if that’s not good enough for some then my apologies but I can’t burden myself with those expectations anymore. Seeing everything that’s going on in the world I feel like if I wake up in the morning that’s a win.”
Osaka broke down during a line of questioning at the Western & Southern Open on Aug. 16, three days before she was upset by Jil Teichmann of Switzerland.
The glare will be even more intense under the bright lights of New York.
Osaka’s first-round opponent on Monday is Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic.
Osaka is viewed as one of the favorites. Ashleigh Barty of Australia is the No. 1 seed and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus is No. 2.
Jennifer Brady (No. 13) is the highest-seeded American in the women’s draw. Other seeded American women include Coco Gauff (No. 21), Jessica Pegula (No. 23) and Danielle Collins (No. 26).
Serena Williams (hamstring) and World No. 6 Sofia Kenin (positive COVID-19 test) recently withdrew from the Grand Slam event.
–Field Level Media