The U.S. Open is introducing new features as the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) places a greater emphasis on the mental well-being of players. The upcoming major tennis tournament will have mental health professionals available to players, along with designated “quiet rooms.”
The USTA stated, “The medical services program for the 2021 tournament will include licensed mental health providers, offering players access to mental health services throughout the event. Quiet rooms and additional support services will also be provided. The US Open will collaborate closely with the WTA and ATP sports science and medicine staff on-site to ensure players are informed about the expanded medical services and know how to utilize these resources when needed.”
This development follows Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal from the French Open after facing criticism for skipping press conferences. She openly discussed her struggles with depression and took a break from the sport until returning for the Olympics representing Japan last month.
USTA CEO and Executive Director Mike Dowse expressed, “The USTA and US Open continually seek ways to collaborate with other Grand Slam events, ATP, WTA, and ITF to offer the highest level of support for our competitors. We acknowledge the importance of addressing players’ mental health and are taking proactive steps to provide athletes with the necessary resources for competing at the highest level.”
USTA Chief Executive Stacey Allaster added, “The emphasis on mental health awareness has heightened during the global pandemic, as many individuals, including athletes, have grappled with the stresses and emotions stemming from COVID-19.
“In combination with the myriad pressures in professional sports, this new reality underscores the need for additional resources to support all aspects of athletes’ well-being, including their mental health. We anticipate the impact of the initiatives introduced at this year’s tournament and beyond on player welfare, and will continue to seek ways to enhance and evolve moving forward.”
window.catalyst.cmd.push(‘loadAds’, [
[“incontent”, “totalprosports-feed-inline_1”]
]);
Social media reactions to this development were varied:
Journalist Megyn Kelly remarked, “Good Lord please never let the snowflakes who need this sign up for our military.”
These responses demonstrate a spectrum of perspectives on the USTA’s proactive approach to mental health support for players.
