Men's world No. 1 Novak Djokovic praised Naomi Osaka's "very brave" withdrawal from the French Open on Tuesday after the Japanese tennis star revealed her struggles with anxiety and depression.

Statements and social media messages offering support and sympathy have flowed following Osaka's revelation, with many athletes from across the sporting spectrum joining Djokovic in applauding her decision to prioritize her mental health.

Naomi Osaka of Japan plays against Patricia Maria Tig of Romania in the first round of the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris on May 30, 2021. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

"I support her. I think she was very brave to do that. I'm really sorry that she is going through painful times and suffering mentally. I hope she recovers. She's a very important person for our sport, so we need to have her back," Djokovic said after reaching the second round at Roland Garros.

"This was, I must say, a very bold decision from her side, but she knows how she feels best. If she needs to take time to reflect and recharge, that's what she needs to do and I respect it fully. I hope she comes back stronger."

The 23-year-old Osaka, ranked No. 2 in the world and winner of four Grand Slams, withdrew from the tournament on Monday after she was fined $15,000 and threatened with suspension for refusing to attend press conferences.

Osaka took to Twitter a day after her first-round win to announce her decision, claiming in an earlier tweet that traditional post-match press conferences are akin to "kicking a person while they're down" and have a detrimental effect on players' mental health.

She said that she has been suffering bouts of depression since the 2018 U.S. Open.

Djokovic, who has been vocal about his frustrations with the tennis media in the past, said he understood how the press rules could feel outdated for someone Osaka's age.

"Naomi is very young. She grew up with social media and the ability to speak out through her channels. I can understand her very well. I empathize because I was on the wrong edge of the sword in my career many times with media," he said.

Serena and Venus Williams, Billie Jean King and Coco Gauff were among the leading names from the tennis community to express their support for Osaka, while NBA player Steph Curry, NFL player Russell Wilson and retired sprinter Usain Bolt also voiced admiration.

Meanwhile, the Grand Slam committee issued a statement on Tuesday expressing concern for Osaka.

"While players' wellbeing has always been a priority to the Grand Slams, our intention, together with the WTA, the ATP and the ITF, is to advance mental health and wellbeing through further actions," the statement read.

"Together, as a community, we will continue to improve the player experience at our tournaments, including as it relates to media."


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Tennis: Naomi Osaka withdraws from French Open, cites depression