Naomi Osaka shared an Instagram thanking fans for 'all the love' following her withdrawal from the French Open

• Naomi Osaka has thanked her fans for their support following her withdrawal from the French Open.
• The 23-year-old withdrew from Roland-Garros last week for mental health reasons.
• "Thank you for all the love," she wrote in an Instagram story.

Naomi Osaka has spoken publicly for the first time since her withdrawal from the French Open for mental health reasons, sharing a brief statement to thank her fans for "all the love" they have shown her.

The Japanese star withdrew from Roland-Garros last week after she was fined $15,000 for failing to attend a post-match press conference following her first round win over Patricia Maria Țig.

In the week leading up to the tournament, the 23-year-old had announced that she would not be speaking to the media during the Open in order to protect her mental health.

Upon her withdrawal, Osaka announced she would be taking some time away from the court and that she had been suffering from bouts of depression, leading to an outpouring of support.

"Just want to thank you for all the love," she wrote in an Instagram story Saturday. "Haven't been on my phone much but I wanted to hop on here and tell you all that I really appreciate it."

The reigning Australian Open ended the message with a love heart emoji.

-Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) June 5, 2021

As well as support from her fans, Osaka has also received support from her fellow professionals since opening up about her mental health issues.

Serena Williams, who crashed out of the tournament in the fourth round on Sunday, said last week she wished she was able to give Osaka a hug.

"The only thing I feel is that I feel for Naomi," said Williams in post-match press conference. "I feel like I wish I could give her a hug because I know what it's like. Like I said, I've been in those positions.

"We have different personalities and people are different. Not everyone is the same," Williams, who has since been knocked out of Roland-Garros, continued.

"I'm thick. Other people are thin. Everyone is different and everyone handles things differently.

"You just have to let her handle it the way she wants to, in the best way she thinks she can, and that's the only thing I can say. I think she's doing the best she can."

Former US tennis star John McEnroe also commended Osaka's decision to withdraw from Roland-Garros, but spoke of his worry that she could end quitting tennis like his great rival Bjorn Borg did.

Borg, an 11-time Grand Slam winner, retired suddenly in 1981 aged just 26, saying he no longer enjoyed tennis and was burned out.

"There's a danger that Osaka is not going to keep going," said McEnroe.

"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.

"And I think Osaka's feeling something similar right now."

Osaka has also received support from outside the sport, with the likes of Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton and Olympic swimming icon Michael Phelps backing her and her decisions.