Mental health problems can affect anyone. Naomi Osaka is no exception, as she has always spoken about her mental health issues on various occasions. In fact, the Japanese tennis player even decided to withdraw from a Grand Slam event in 2021 due to the same concerns. Now it looks like the WTA superstar’s actions have had a profound impact on her male counterpart, Nick Kyrgios, according to recent revelations.

Just like Osaka, the Australian tennis player has also faced mental health issues during his competitive journey. Notably, Kygrios recently opened up about how his WTA counterpart has played a crucial role in the way he dealt with his own struggles, as he also brought to light a heartfelt exchange.

Nick Kygrios on how Naomi Osaka ‘helped’ during a terrible phase

In the previous season of the Netflix tennis docu-series ‘Break Point,’ the Aussie spoke candidly about his mental health struggles. Nick Kygrios revealed that he self-harmed after facing an initial round defeat at the Grand Slam event in London.

The extent of the ATP player’s struggles further came to light when he also opened up about spending time in a psychiatric ward in London. Shedding light on that terrible phase of life, the ‘bad boy of tennis’ asserted that his WTA counterpart has played an important role in changing his outlook on mental health issues.

In the latest episode of the “What Now? with Trevor Noah” show, Kygrios lauded Osaka’s decision to pull out of the French Open due to her mental health issues. It attracted controversy as the Aussie said, “Everyone was like, ‘Oh, how could you?’ like ‘it’s a privilege to be there’. Like bro, she earned her right to be in the French Open. She doesn’t want to play for mental health.”

The Japanese tennis player’s actions have had a profound impact on Kygrios as they ‘opened his eyes.’ He added, “And then I was I saw that and that opened my eyes. I was like, ‘Holy sh*t, someone’s actually doing it.’ Wow.” The former Wimbledon finalist went on to reveal that he even thanked Osaka personally, as her decision to pull out of a Grand Slam event “helped” him. Kygrios said that he has shortened his schedule as he now only plays when he really wants to play a competitive game on the court.

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What do you think of the Australian tennis star hailing Osaka for changing his outlook on mental health issues? Let us know in the comments section.

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