Top-ranked Jannik Sinner pulled out of the Paris Olympics on Wednesday because of tonsillitis.
Sinner, a 22-year-old from Italy, posted on social media that a doctor advised him that he should sit out the Summer Games. Sinner won the Australian Open in January for his first Grand Slam title and moved up to No. 1 in the ATP rankings last month after reaching the French Open semifinals.
The draw for Olympic tennis is Thursday. Matches begin Saturday.
“Missing the Olympics is a big disappointment given that it was one of my main goals this season,” Sinner wrote in Italian. “I couldn’t wait to have the honour of representing my country in this extremely important event.”
Sinner will be replaced on Italy’s team by 207th-ranked Andrea Vavassori in singles and by Luciano Darderi in doubles alongside Lorenzo Musetti.
Denmark’s Holger Rune, who is ranked 16th, also announced his withdrawal on social media Wednesday, saying he has pain in his wrist.
The Summer Games tennis competition will be held at Roland Garros, site of the annual French Open Grand Slam tournament.
Sinner reached the semifinals at the French Open in June before losing to Alcaraz, who went on to win the championship.
Alcaraz, a 21-year-old from Spain, then claimed his fourth Grand Slam trophy at Wimbledon this month by beating Djokovic, a 37-year-old from Serbia. It was the second consecutive year that Alcaraz defeated Djokovic in the final at the All England Club.
Sinner was eliminated from Wimbledon in the quarterfinals.
Rune, 21, was set to make his Olympics debut in Paris.
“I am really sorry that I will be unable to play the Olympics. It’s something I’ve been looking forward to playing and being a part of,” Rune wrote on X.
“I have played with pain in my wrist throughout both the clay and grass seasons, so I have to take the medical recommendations seriously.”
Rune most recently competed last week in Hamburg, Germany where he retired from his quarter-final match against eventual champion Arthur Fils of France while trailing 6-4 4-1.
Source Agencies
