Naomi Osaka's decision to shun the media at the French Open has rocked the tennis landscape and all eyes will be on the world number two when she takes on Romanian Patricia Maria Tig in her first match on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Sunday.
Osaka's announcement that she would boycott her press conferences to protect her mental health has sparked heated debate, with the 23-year-old Japanese player drawing support and condemnation from various quarters.Osaka missed last year's French Open with a hamstring injury and her preparation has been far from ideal this year, with only three matches under her belt on clay after early defeats in Madrid and Rome.
"In a weird way I'm kind of glad I'm not winning," Osaka had said. "I know that sounds a bit off, but I feel like I'm learning a lot." Twice a finalist at Roland Garros, the Austrian will not meet one of the 'Big Three' - Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer - until the quarter-finals, being in the other half of the draw, but is more worried about his own form.