If anyone was going to challenge the system, it was Naomi Osaka.
The Japanese four-time Grand Slam champion has said she will not give any news conferences during the French Open because she wants to protect her mental health.
Her move has been applauded by athletes in tennis and beyond, as the once shy 23-year-old has again sought to use her platform to prompt discussion and push for change.
Some tennis officials have been less supportive: she faces huge fines - up to $20,000 (£14,160) per news conference - for failing to carry out the media commitments that are in the Grand Slam rulebook - but the very fact she can afford to pay them means she is among the best placed players to take a stand.
In response to Osaka, the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) said the players "have a responsibility to their sport and their fans" to speak to the media during competitions.
The general consensus among Osaka's fellow professionals, who have been speaking at Roland Garros on Friday, is one of respect for her stance but believing the media obligations are "part of the job".
Time to look at athlete's media obligations?
"If the organisations think that they can just keep saying 'do press or you're gonna be fined' and continue to ignore the mental health of the athletes that are the centrepiece of their cooperation, then I just gotta laugh," Osaka said.
The WTA, which governs the women's tour, said mental health is of "utmost importance", adding it had a "system in place" to provide support to players.
It added: "The WTA welcomes a dialogue with Naomi (and all players) to discuss possible approaches that can help support an athlete as they manage any concerns related to mental health, while also allowing us to deliver upon our responsibilities to the fans and public.
"Professional athletes have a responsibility to their sport and their fans to speak to the media surrounding their competition, allowing them the opportunity to share their perspective and tell their story."
Serena Williams left her Australian Open news conference in tears after her semi-final defeat by Osaka in February, while Britain's Johanna Konta was frustrated by questions challenging her big-point mentality after a Wimbledon quarter-final defeat in 2019.
British player and BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Naomi Broady thinks it could be time to look at changing the rule that says players must speak to the media within 30 minutes after their match.
"If it was just more time after that big loss, so that you can compose yourself and digest and cry out of the spotlight," she said.
"It's difficult because it is also your opportunity to show your passion and your personality, but if it's on an occasion when you are so upset it's difficult that you're almost forced by the rules to do it so quickly."
So far, the response from senior officials indicates there may not be an appetite for change. "I think this is a phenomenal mistake," said French Tennis Federation (FFT) president Gilles Moretton.
"It shows to what extent today [the need] that there is strong governance in tennis.
"What is happening there is, in my opinion, not acceptable. We will stick to the laws and rules for penalties and fines."
French Open tournament director Guy Forget added that Osaka's decision "doesn't send a very positive message".
Also Read | Emma Raducanu: a future star in the making
Or a different type of news conference?
Broady remembers the exact time when her own attitude towards the media changed.
After a late-night Australian Open defeat she was ushered quickly into the media room. There were just two journalists there as it was past midnight, and after one of them started asking questions she burst into tears. She says the reporter was "really sweet" and "apologetic" that he had upset her, and the other said to her "you know, what, let's just do this tomorrow".
"And it was literally from that moment that I changed my opinion about people in the media because until that point you almost don't see a softer side to them because they are trying to get their questions out," she said.
News conferences will continue - as British sprinter Dina Asher-Smith pointed out in a lengthy message of support for Osaka: "We need a free press that asks us valid questions and has the freedom to challenge us."
And of course there is the financial side too, with Broady saying media is "a huge part of the sport, it's a huge part of where we get our revenue - from TV rights.
"If the fans don't get to see that side of things then maybe less of them will tune in and that will have a knock-on effect on our purse at the end of the day. It would affect how much the tournaments could sell themselves for if the players didn't do media and such.
"But maybe the rules need to be looked at to be more empathetic towards the players and the athletes."
What are the players saying about this decision?
All the players are agreeing to her claim to some extent. They all are saying that they respect her decision but they think it is one of their responsibility to face the media. They agree that after a loss it becomes very difficult to face them but they got all the attention from the whole world because of the media so they can't deny them . Yes, they ask very personal questions at times and not bother about their mental health during the time of corona virus but they believe that they have prepare it mentally to handle it. It's part and parcel of the game.
Also Read | A dream come true moment for Ashleigh Bartey
