News_Arthas, Raducanu, Jabeur Officially Withdraw from Paris Olympics

World No. 3 Sabalenka confirmed in a pre-tournament press conference ahead of this week’s WTA 500 Berlin that she will miss the upcoming Paris Olympics. To better preserve her physical condition and prepare for the hardcourt season, Sabalenka has chosen to skip the Games taking place at Roland Garros.

Sabalenka

“I think I need to take better care of my body after all the struggles I’ve had in the last few months,” Sabalenka said on Monday local time. “This schedule is too tough on my body, so I made this decision for my health.”

This year marks the first time since the 1992 Barcelona Olympics that tennis is being played on clay, meaning most players participating in the Olympics will have to navigate a transition from grass to clay and then back to hardcourts within a month.

“I would prefer to have more time to rest so my body can be ready for the hardcourt season. I believe it’s safer and better for my body.”

The WTA 500 Berlin is Sabalenka’s first event after Roland Garros, where she suffered from stomach issues in her quarterfinal match against Andreescu, ultimately falling in three sets to the young prodigy.

“That was the worst experience I’ve ever had on court,” Sabalenka recalled. “I played while sick, and I’ve played with injuries before, but when you have stomach problems, you have no energy to play, especially in a Grand Slam quarterfinal – that was painful. But that’s how it is. I think it was a sign from my body that it needed more rest after such a tough few months. I took a few days to relax and recover properly.”

Raducanu

Two other notable withdrawals are former US Open champion Raducanu and two-time Wimbledon finalist Jabeur. Despite being ranked as low as No. 209 at the entry deadline, Raducanu, as a Grand Slam winner, still qualified for one of the wildcard spots reserved for major champions. However, the Brit announced last week that she would not participate in this year’s Olympics.

“My priority right now is to focus on my health because I know that if I’m in good shape and able to give my all on court, the results will come. I’m very set in my beliefs, and I like doing things my way. I don’t think it’s necessary to put more strain on my body, given what’s happened in the past – it’s a risky move.”

Jabeur

World No. 10 Jabeur has also decided to skip the Paris Olympics due to injury prevention concerns.

“After discussing with my medical team about playing the Paris Olympics, we agreed that with the frequent changes of surfaces, there might be potential harm to my knees, which could impact the rest of my season,” Jabeur announced on social media on Monday. “Unfortunately, I won’t be competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics. I love representing my country in any tournament, but I have to listen to my body and follow my medical team’s advice.”