Jannik Sinner, the current world number one in men’s tennis, has withdrawn from the upcoming Paris Olympics due to a tonsillitis diagnosis. This is a major blow to the Italian player’s season and the Olympic tennis tournament as a whole.
Sinner, just 22 years old, was considered a strong contender for the gold medal on the Parisian clay courts. He had a successful clay season, reaching the semifinals at the French Open after achieving his maiden Grand Slam victory at the Australian Open earlier this year.
Illness Disrupts Sinner’s Olympic Dreams
“After a positive week of training on clay, I started feeling unwell,” Sinner wrote in a social media post. “I took a few days to rest, but a doctor’s visit revealed tonsillitis, and they strongly advised against playing.”
Sinner expressed his disappointment, stating, “Missing the Games is a huge disappointment as it was one of my main goals for this season.”
Sinner’s withdrawal paves the way for Novak Djokovic to become the top seed in the men’s singles competition. The official draw will be held on Thursday.
Rising Injury Toll Casts Shadow over Olympic Tennis
Sinner’s absence adds to a growing list of players missing the Olympics. Marketa Vondrousova, the Tokyo 2020 silver medalist, pulled out due to a hand injury on Tuesday. 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 the string of withdrawals, the Olympic tennis tournament remains star-studded. Djokovic, the reigning Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz, and US Open champion Coco Gauff are all confirmed participants.
The Olympic tennis competition features men’s and women’s singles and doubles, along with mixed doubles. The competition takes place from July 27th to August 4th, with a tight turnaround between the Olympics and the US Open, which begins three weeks later.
British Representation at the Paris Olympics
Great Britain will be sending a strong contingent to compete in Paris. Andy Murray, nearing the end of his illustrious career, will be present in both singles and doubles alongside Dan Evans, Jack Draper, and Cameron Norrie. Murray will team up with Evans in doubles, while Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski are considered serious contenders for a medal in the same event.
Katie Boulter is the sole British representative in the women’s singles and will partner with Heather Watson in doubles. Watson will also compete in the mixed doubles with Salisbury.
Sinner’s withdrawal weakens the men’s field but doesn’t diminish the overall excitement surrounding the Olympic tennis tournament. With a blend of established stars and rising talents, the competition promises high-quality matches and thrilling battles for the coveted gold medals.
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