I don’t normally do a lot of writing on topical things that I see in the news. I do a lot of thinking, but not necessarily writing. However a sports story that has been brewing over the past number of weeks has really caught my attention.

It concerns Naomi Osaka, the four-time grand slam tennis champion, the brightest young star across the world of tennis. Before the recent French Open tournament she released a statement where she indicated that she wouldn’t be taking any press conferences because of the negative impact that they had on their mental health. From what I heard the timing of the statement and perhaps the wording wasn’t very helpful, but the reaction to it all is what has caught me out.

She was shamed by so many in the media, the tournament itself didn’t respond glowingly and in the end she pulled out of the tournament as she didn’t want to take the attention away from the tennis and her colleagues.

It’s an interesting one.

Most people today, thankfully, are in support of people who are struggling with mental health. We have all realised that we can all struggle in this area on some level and we want people to receive the help and support when they require it.

Or do we really? When it cuts across something else that we think people should do?

Naomi not doing a press conference enraged people because that is part of the sport and it is what was expected. But if doing that press conference is the thing that triggers mental health shouldn’t we let her miss that and concentrate on her wellbeing?

Are we prepared to set down our expectations to protect another health? I’m interested to see where moments like this land in the future because this won’t be the last time we deal with something like this.