Japan’s Naomi Osaka stunned the French Open on Monday when she announced she was withdrawing from the tournament in the wake of her decision to boycott post-match media duties.

Osaka said in the build-up to the tournament that she would not attend the obligatory press conferences, citing that the way journalists quiz players adversely impacts her mental well-being.

The four-time Grand Slam champion made good on her threat on Sunday when, after winning her first round match, she did not hold a press conference.

She was fined $15,000 by Grand Slam organisers who issued a statement later warning of possible expulsion from Roland Garros and future majors if she fails to change her stance.

On Monday, the world No.2 decided to take matters into her own hands to end the stand-off. “This isn’t a situation I ever imagined or intended when I posted a few days ago,” the 23-year-old Osaka said on Twitter.

“I think now the best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris.

“I never wanted to be a distraction and I accept that my timing was not ideal and my message could have been clearer.”

Osaka, one of the biggest names in women’s sport, went on to say she had suffered from depression since 2018.

“The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018 and I have had a really hard time coping with that,” she said.

“Anyone that knows me knows I’m introverted, and anyone that has seen me at the tournaments will notice that I’m often wearing headphones as that helps dull my social anxiety.”

There was no immediate response from tournament organisers.

Federer in charge

Roger Federer marked his return to the Grand Slam arena in dazzling fashion with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 first-round defeat of qualifier Denis Istomin. The 39-year-old Swiss had not played a Grand Slam match since the 2020 Australian Open and had managed only one clay court match in the build-up to Roland Garros.

Benoit Paire had been waiting to play in front of a proper crowd for several months, and even if the support of his home fans was not enough as he lost, the Frenchman was the happiest here.

With up to 1,000 fans allowed to watch on a sun-kissed court Simonne Mathieu, Paire fully enjoyed the loud cheers throughout, even if Norwegian 15th seed Casper Ruud defeated him 5-7, 6-2, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4).

Second seed Daniil Medvedev beat Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in an entertaining clash to finally win his first-ever match at Roland Garros on his fifth attempt.

Italian prospect Jannik Sinner laboured to a 6-1, 4-6, 6-7 (4-7), 7-5, 6-4 victory against France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

American John Isner sent down 22 aces en route to beating compatriot Sam Querrey 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, 6-4.

On Sunday, sixth seed Alexander Zverev rallied from two sets down to beat qualifier Oscar Otte 3-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-0.

Iga’s birthday gift

Birthday girl Iga Swiatek faced some stiff resistance in the second set before the Pole went on to beat best friend Kaja Juvan of Slovenia 6-0, 7-5 to launch her title defence.

Celebrating her 20th birthday, Swiatek got a warm hug before the start of the match from Juvan, who is her friend from junior ranks.

“It’s never easy to play against your best friend,” Swiatek told reporters. “You just try to block this friendship for two hours.”

The friends shared another warm embrace and Juvan stayed back on court as Swiatek was handed a bouquet and the spectators sang “happy birthday” for her.

Bianca Andreescu became the highest women’s seed to fall so far as she lost a three-hour marathon against Tamara Zidansek. The 2019 US Open champion, seeded sixth, went down 6-7 (1-7), 7-6 (7-2), 9-7 to the Slovenian.

The women’s draw lost another big name when Kiki Bertens fell at the first hurdle, losing 1-6, 6-3, 4-6 to another Slovenian, Polona Hercog.

Marketa Vondrousova, the 2019 runner-up who is seeded 20th this year, managed to avoid an early exit, battling back from a set down to beat Kaia Kanepi 4-6, 6-3, 6-0.

Johanna Konta, a semi-finalist in 2019, also crashed out as the 19th seed lost 6-7 (5-7), 2-6 to 54th-ranked Romanian Sorana Cirstea. Another Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens, the 16th seed, was beaten 1-6, 6-3, 4-6 by Slovenia’s Polona Hercog.