In men’s tennis, current world number one Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris after being diagnosed with tonsillitis, a major blow to the Italian’s season and the Olympic tennis tournament as a whole.
At just 22, Sinner was considered a strong contender for gold on the clay courts in Paris. He had a successful clay season, winning his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open earlier this year and reaching the semifinals at the French Open.
Illness hinders sinner’s Olympic dreams
“After a positive week of training on clay, I started to feel unwell,” Sinner wrote in a social media post. “I rested for a few days, but then went to the doctor who diagnosed me with tonsillitis and strongly advised me not to play.”
“I’m very disappointed that I won’t be able to play in a game that was one of my main goals this season,” Sinner said.
Sinner’s withdrawal clears the way for Novak Djokovic to become the top seed in the men’s singles. The official draw will be held on Thursday.
Rising Injuries Cast Shadow on Olympic Tennis
Sinner’s absence adds to the growing list of athletes who are not competing at the Olympics. Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Marketa Vondrousova withdrew on Tuesday with a hand injury. Other notable withdrawals include British player Emma Raducanu, world number three Aryna Sabalenka and Tunisian star Ons Jabeur, a two-time Wimbledon runner-up.
Despite a string of withdrawals, the Olympic tennis tournament is still star-studded: Djokovic, current Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz and US Open champion Coco Gauff are all confirmed participants.
The Olympic tennis competition consists of men’s and women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. The competition runs from July 27 to August 4, with a tight schedule between the Olympics and the US Open, which begins three weeks later.
Representing Great Britain at the Paris Olympics
Britain will send a strong squad to compete in Paris. Andy Murray, who is nearing the end of his brilliant career, will compete in both the singles and doubles alongside Dan Evans, Jack Draper and Cameron Norrie. Murray will team up with Evans in the doubles, while Joe Salisbury and Neil Skupski are considered serious contenders for medals in the same event.
Katie Boulter is the sole representative of Great Britain in the women’s singles and will partner Heather Watson in the doubles. Watson will also compete in the mixed doubles with Salisbury.
Sinner’s withdrawal weakens the men’s team, but it does not diminish the overall excitement surrounding the Olympic tennis tournament. With a mix of established stars and rising talent, the event promises high-quality matches and thrilling battles for the coveted gold medal.
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