Naomi Osaka withdrew from the 2021 French Open. She isn’t injured. There is no family emergency. It is simply that she wouldn’t make herself available to the media. Organizers for the French Open fined her. Then threatened to expel her.

In a world obsessed with motives for dissent, the simple fact that any player would be required to do media interviews should draw far more of our attention.

In other words, why are we focused on her and not the ones imposing these rules?

The French Open isn’t based on personality, charisma, or diction. It’s tennis. Performance on the court accounts for 100% of the contours of the competition.

Osaka is dissenting from an expectation that isn’t just unreasonable, but a gross exercise of authority.

“Just deal with it” is unhealthy

There are many situations in our lives in which well-meaning people have told us to “just do what you’ve got to do.” I’ve been told that many times. But that never helps us make it better. It, at best, helps us survive. It doesn’t protect the next person from experiencing the same abuse.

A lot of people are focusing on Naomi Osaka. But what we should put our focus on is the French Open, the World Tennis Association, and the sports media which coordinate this charade.

Any person who says shut up and play—well, that’s what she did. And they punished her for it.

Sports media wants all athletes to perform exceptionally well on the court and off. They cannot only be athletes; they must also be entertainers. Be funny, outgoing. Smile. Be happy. Just don’t say anything serious.

Come off the court and then really perform for us.

The French Open doesn’t just want to be an elite competition. It also wants a minstrel show.

The media expectations for professional athletes are unhealthy. For them and for us. And we are the poorer for it.