In an address on Reddit, which was co-founded by the husband of one of Osaka's most high-profile backers – former champion Serena Williams – her sister confessed that the Grand Slam winner "sucks at explaining her actions most of the time", adding that it had been "a little hard for me to see all these different opinions from everyone and not being able to share Naomi’s side even just a little bit."

The former professional tennis player revealed that Osaka had been worn down by press conferences which she had perceived as occasions when she had been told she was bad on clay, the surface on which the French Open is played and that she has had least success on.

"Her confidence was completely shattered and I think that everyone’s remarks and opinions have gotten to her head and she herself believed that she was bad on clay," she said, reflecting on Osaka's first round exit at the Italian Open earlier this month.