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- John McEnroe says he's worried Naomi Osaka could end up quitting tennis like his old rival Bjorn Borg.
- Borg retired suddenly in 1981 aged 25, saying he no longer enjoyed tennis and was mentally burned out.
- "I think Osaka is feeling something similar right now," McEnroe said on his "Holding Court" podcast.
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John McEnroe says he's worried Naomi Osaka could end up prematurely quitting tennis like his old rival Bjorn Borg did because of the way the sport has mishandled her media blackout and mental health concerns.
Osaka withdrew from the French Open on Monday after she was fined $15,000 for not attending a press-conference following her first round win over Patricia Maria Țig on Sunday.
In the week before Roland-Garros kicked off, the 23-year-old announced she would not be speaking to the media at the tournament in order to protect her mental health. As she withdrew, she revealed that she has suffered from depression since 2018.
Following the announcement, the French Tennis Federation (FFT) threatened to default Osaka from the Open should she fail to fulfill her media commitments.
The tournament's social media also mocked the Japanese star in a since-deleted Twitter post.
"I'm very concerned about our sport," McEnroe told his brother, Patrick, while speaking on his "Holding Court" podcast on Wednesday. "More so after what's transpired the last couple of days.
"I thought what Naomi did initially would give food for thought to the powers that be, but they felt they had to come back with something strong and intimidating, obviously, and what they did, for me, is cause a lose-lose for everyone now.
"Naomi's decided not to play. She's laid bare her own feelings which is good for us to know as outsiders looking in, but the truth is I think that this is only going to bring more attention to it down the road, so that's going to be difficult for her.
McEnroe also criticized the strong reaction of tennis authorities to Osaka's initial media blackout, saying Roland-Garros went too far.
"The powers that be, in my opinion, didn't need to take it to the level where they were threatening to default her, that would [have been] a major negative for the sport. And that's what they did.
"It's one thing to fine a player, a player obviously like Osaka can afford it and maybe that money could have gone to a good cause, but now what they've done, to me, exploded in their face."
McEnroe, who won seven Grand Slam titles as a player, went on to say the saga reminds him of when Bjorn Borg suddenly quit tennis in 1981.
Getty/Fox Photos
The Swede, an 11-time Slam winner, abruptly retired after losing to McEnroe in the 1981 US Open final, aged just-25. After the defeat he walked off the court without waiting for the trophy presentation.
Speaking with the New York Times three days later, Borg said he was no longer enjoying the sport and was mentally burned out.
McEnroe fears the same could happen with Osaka, saying: "Look at my buddy Bjorn Borg, he stopped at 25. There is a danger that Osaka is not going to keep going."
"Who knows what's going to happen with her. I feel really concerned because Bjorn Borg was one of the best things that ever happened to our sport and I feel like he was pushed out of the game.
"I think Osaka is feeling something similar right now."