Ons Jabeur and Aryna Sabalenka Withdraw from Olympics

Ons Jabeur and Aryna Sabalenka have chosen to skip this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris to prioritize their health concerns. Sabalenka, currently ranked third in the world, won her second Australian Open title in January but lost to Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva in the French Open quarter-finals earlier this month. It was her first major tournament exit before the semi-finals since the 2022 French Open. Jabeur, ranked 10th globally has been dealing with a persistent knee injury over the past two years. The 29-year-old Tunisian voiced reservations about competing on grass and hard courts around the Olympics. Her concerns grew after she lost in the quarter-finals of the French Open.

The Olympic tennis competition will take place on the clay courts at Roland Garros from July 27 to August 4, with the US Open starting just 22 days later. On the X platform, Ons Jabeur and her team concluded that swift surface transitions posed risks to her knee. This could potentially jeopardize the remainder of her season. Sabalenka, who was the runner-up at the US Open last year, stressed the importance of taking a break to ensure her physical readiness for the upcoming hard-court season. “Given the challenges I’ve faced in recent months, it’s crucial for me to prioritize my health,” Sabalenka remarked. “The scheduling would be too demanding, and I believe this decision is necessary for my well-being.”

Athletes from Russia and Belarus who qualify for the Games can only compete as neutrals in Paris, following Russia’s military actions in Ukraine since February 2022. Daniil Medvedev, Russia’s men’s world number four, intends to participate in the Olympics as a neutral athlete. Sabalenka is preparing for Wimbledon by participating in Berlin, where she reached the semi-finals last year. Wimbledon is scheduled from July 1 to July 14.