Aryna Sabalenka recently announced that she is set to miss the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Belarusian cited scheduling issues and the risk of compromising her health as the reasons.
In March, amid uncertainty surrounding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the Olympics, the ITF announced that players from both countries would be allowed to participate as neutrals if they comply with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC’s) principles. However, despite the favorable news, several tennis players from both countries have opted out of the event, mainly due to health concerns.
Tennis at the Paris Olympics (July 26- August 11) will be held at Stade Roland Garros (the venue of the French Open) just a couple of weeks after Wimbledon, which is played on grasscourts. The North American hardcourt swing, meanwhile, will commence simultaneously, with the US Open main draw matches starting on August 26.
Aryna Sabalenka previously expressed concerns over the congested scheduling and the rapid surface changes.
“It’s a tough schedule and everything is super tight and super close. It’s just crazy, we like, go clay, grass, back on clay, I don’t know if it’s safe for the body,” she had said in her press conference in Indian Wells.
The Belarusian has now announced that she won’t compete in Paris.
“Well, I’m not going to play Olympics because of all the rules from the WTA with mandatory tournaments. So, I have to sacrifice something and unfortunately, I have to sacrifice the Olympics at this stage of my career,” she said during her pre-tournament press conference in Berlin.
The World No. 3, who has dealt with a lower back injury and a stomach bug in recent weeks, noted that she wishes to prioritize her health.
“And especially with all the struggles… I’ve been struggling last months; I feel like I need to take care of my health. But that’s so tricky. I mean, it’s too much for the scheduling, and it’s just too much. And I made the decision to take care of my health,” Aryna Sabalenka added.
Russia’s Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov, who won gold in mixed doubles and silver in singles, respectively, at the Tokyo Olympics, have similarly decided to skip the Paris Olympics alongside compatriot Liudmila Samsonova.
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