The world’s No. 2-ranked tennis player shined a light on mental health awareness and the sports world when Naomi Osaka stunningly withdrew Monday from the French Open after boycotting a post-match news conference, explaining she has been suffering from depression for almost three years.

Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, wrote in a message posted on Twitter that she would be taking a break from competition.

The stunning move came a day after Osaka, a 23-year-old who was born in Japan and moved with her family to the United States at age 3, was fined $15,000 for skipping the postmatch news conference after her first round victory at the French Open.

She also was threatened by Grand Slam organizers, who later issued a strongly worded statement warning of possible additional punishment, including disqualification or suspension from the French Open and future tournaments if she continued with her intention to not “do any press during Roland Garros.”

On Monday, Osaka decided to take matters into her own hands to end the stand-off, framing the matter as a mental health issue and saying that it can create self-doubt to have to answer questions after a loss.

“This isn’t a situation I ever imagined or intended when I posted a few days ago,” Osaka wrote 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 sports, went on to say she had suffered from depression since 2018.

“The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since the U.S. 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. ... I am not a natural public speaker and get huge waves of anxiety before I speak to the world’s media.”

Reading from a prepared statement at a news conference, French tennis federation President Gilles Moretton said, “We are sorry and sad for Naomi Osaka. ... We wish her the best and quickest possible recovery, and we look forward to having Naomi at our tournament next year.”

He added that the major tennis bodies were committed to athletes’ well-being and improving their tournament experi- ence, including their interaction with the media.

“Mental health and awareness around it is one of the highest priorities to the WTA,” the Women’s Tennis Association said in a statement. “We have invested significant resources, staffing and educational tools in this area for the past 20-plus years and continue to develop our mental health support system for the betterment of the athletes and the organization. We remain here to support and assist Naomi in any way possible and we hope to see her back on the court soon.”

After beating Serena Williams to claim her first major at the 2018 U.S. Open, Osaka was booed by the crowd during the presentation ceremony as her victory was overshadowed by theAmerican’s outburst following a row with the umpire.

Osaka said that since then, she has struggled with being in the spotlight.

Williams offered support to Osaka.

“I feel for Naomi. I feel like I wish I could give her a hug,” the 39-year-old William said after her first round win. “Because I know what it’s like. I’ve been in those positions.”

American Sofia Kenin, who won the Australian Open and finished as runner-up at Roland Garros last year, said dealing with the media demands of elite tennis is “definitely not easy,” but it is what players “signed up for.”

“There’s expectations from the outside, sponsors and everyone. You just have to somehow manage it. You have to have a good team around you who support you,” Kenin said.

Osaka, who according to sports business website Sportico earned $55.2 million during the past 12 months, said that she would take some time away from tennis and hoped later to meet the sport’s organizers to improve the system.

“I wrote privately to the tournament apologizing and saying that I would be more than happy to speak with them after the tournament as the slams are intense,” Osaka wrote.

“I’m gonna take some time away from the court now, but when the time is right, I really want to work with the tour to discuss ways we can make things better for the players, press and fans.”

Several athletes in tennis and other sports tweeted their support for Osaka. Martina Navratilova, an 18-time Grand Slam champion, wrote, “I am so sad about Naomi Osaka. I truly hope she will be ok. As athletes we are taught to take care of our body, and perhaps the mental & emotional aspect gets short shrift. This is about more than doing or not doing a press conference. Good luck

Naomi — we are all pulling for you!” Two-time NBA MVP Steph Curry wrote that it was “impressive taking the high road when the powers that be don’t protect their own. major respect.”