“I am saddened to inform you that unfortunately I will not be able to participate in the Paris Olympic Games,” Sinner wrote on social media. “After a good week of clay training I started to feel unwell. I spent a couple of days resting and during a visit the doctor found tonsillitis and strongly advised me against playing.
“Missing the Games is a huge disappointment as it was one of my main goals for this season. I couldn’t wait to have the honour of representing my country in this very important event. Good luck to all the Italian athletes who I will support from home.”
Sinner wasn’t the only major star to withdraw from the Olympics only a few days out from the start of competition. Young star Rune also withdrew after battling a wrist injury throughout the clay and grass court campaigns. Rune is World No.16 and will rest ahead of the US Open. Hubert Hurkacz is also another top 10 player not competing in Paris.
Alex de Minaur question remains after Olympics announcement
While Sinner and Rune join a list of top players not competing in the Olympics, de Minaur stunned Aussie fans having announced he will compete in Paris. At Wimbledon, de Minaur withdrew from his quarter-final clash against Novak Djokovic after he suffered a hip cartilage tear in the final game of his last 16 win over Arthur Fils.
De Minaur did everything in his power to try and play against Djokovic, but ultimately it wasn’t enough, with his attention quickly turning to trying to be fit in time to represent Australia at the Paris Games. This was viewed as a long shot with the recovery time estimated at being between three to six weeks and his campaign with Australia kicking off just some 17 days after his injury.
However, in a huge announcement, de Minaur confirmed in an Instagram post that he would line up for Australia. “To finally be able to represent Australia in the Olympics is a dream come true,” he wrote on Tuesday. “I’m very passionate when I play for my country and wear the green and gold, so this is another one of those moments. I’m extremely excited to lace up for Paris 2024.”
De Minaur was seen with Aussie Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt in Paris ahead of competition as he enjoyed a hit on the clay courts. And with Sinner out of the tournament, de Minaur will move up to the No.5 seed. This is the highest seed he will have entered a major tournament with – grand slam or Olympics – throughout his career.
This is huge for de Minaur and he is guaranteed not play anyone in the top 10 until the quarter-final. However, the Aussie also remains a doubt for some tennis fans. Supporters have questioned if de Minaur will play the majority of the tournament with so many players withdrawing with one eye on the upcoming US Open.
