Tennis player Naomi Osaka and US TV host Megyn Kelly
Osaka told Kelly to "do better" after the reporter criticized her media appearances
Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images and Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images
  • Naomi Osaka hit back at Megyn Kelly after the ex-anchor appeared to accuse her of hypocrisy.
  • Kelly criticized Osaka for saying she doesn't want to speak to the media before appearing in Vogue and SI.
  • Osaka's media blackout started at the French Open when she withdrew over mental health concerns.
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Naomi Osaka clapped back at Megyn Kelly over criticism of the tennis star's recent media schedule, and told the former Fox and NBC anchor to "do better," before appearing to block her on Twitter.

Osaka, the world's number two ranked player, pulled out of the French Open in June after she was fined for refusing to speak to the media.

She later said that her withdrawal was down to mental health issues, and said she planned to take some time away from social media.

Since then, Osaka has played little tennis, missing the year's third Grand Slam, Wimbledon, in favor of training for her home Olympics in Japan.

She has, however, made a number of media appearances, appearing on the cover of Vogue and Sports Illustrated. She is also the star of a new Netflix docuseries.

These appearances have led some, including Kelly, to accuse Osaka of hypocrisy by only making select media appearances.

Kelly and Osaka's Twitter exchange started when Clay Travis, a commentator known for his conservative opinions, tweeted that since withdrawing from the French Open, Osaka has "launched a reality show, a Barbie, and now is on the cover of the SI swimsuit issue."

Kelly then joined in, retweeting Travis' post with the message "Let's not forget the cover of (& interview in) Vogue Japan and Time Mag!"

In a since-deleted tweet, Osaka fired back and told Kelly to "do better."

"Seeing as you're a journalist I would've assumed you would take the time to research what the lead times are for magazines, if you did that you would've found out I shot all of my covers last year.

"Instead your first reaction is to hop on here and spew negativity, do better Megan," Osaka posted.

Kelly then said that she guessed Osaka was "only tough on the courts" and then told the 23-year-old to admit that the "truth is she just doesn't like questions she can't control."

Kelly then tweeted a screenshot suggesting that Osaka had blocked her on the platform.

Since her withdrawal from the French Open, Osaka has faced criticism from commentators like Piers Morgan, who also weighed in Monday, tweeting: "The only media Ms Osaka wants to tolerate are sycophantic magazine editors telling her how perfect she is."

In reply to Kelly's tweet, Morgan said that Osaka has also blocked him

Osaka has, however, been widely praised for speaking publicly about her mental health, gaining support from figures like Meghan Markle and Michelle Obama.

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