French Open Defends ‘Pragmatic’ Stance in Osaka Dealings

French Open Defends ‘Pragmatic’ Stance in Osaka Dealings
Japan's Naomi Osaka returns the ball to Romania's Patricia Maria Tig during their first round match of the French open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, on May 30, 2021. Christophe Ena/AP Photo
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PARIS—French Open organizers defended their “pragmatic” approach in their dealings with four-time major champion Naomi Osaka during the tournament, saying Sunday they tried to engage with her several times before she decided to withdraw because she needed a mental health break.

“We did it the right way,” French tennis federation president Gilles Moretton said at a news conference on the last day of the tournament.