“I’m figuring it out at the same time as you are” – Osaka breaks down to media

Naomi Osaka has broken down in tears before resuming her first news conference since the controversy over refusing to speak to media at the French Open

Osaka became emotional shortly after being asked about dealing with media in a news conference format – and the Cincinnati Masters video call was briefly halted.

“When you say I’m not crazy about dealing with you guys, what does that refer to?” asked Osaka, who is of Japanese-Haitian heritage.

“Ever since I was younger, I have had a lot of media interest on me, and I think it’s because of my background as well.

“I can’t really help that there are some things that I tweet or some things that I say that kind of create a lot of news articles or things like that… but I would also say I’m not really sure how to balance the two.

“Like I’m figuring it out at the same time as you are, I would say.”

Osaka’s agent Stuart Duguid condemned the reporter’s question to the tennis star on Monday, as seen in a written statement provided to Reuters.

“The bully at the Cincinnati Enquirer is the epitome of why player/media relations are so fraught right now,” the statement said.

“Everyone on that Zoom will agree that his tone was all wrong and his sole purpose was to intimidate. Really appalling behaviour,” he said.

During the French Open earlier this year, the four-time Grand Slam winner said she would not do news conferences to protect her mental health.