Sad News: Tennis players Jabeur and Sabalenka will not compete in the Paris Olympics.
Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka and two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur ruled
themselves out of the Olympic Games in Paris on Monday. Both top-10 players said they didn’t want to switch from grass at Wimbledon back to clay at Roland Garros for the Olympic tournament and then immediately start the hard-court season in North America.
World No 3 Sabalenka from Belarus said she’d rather have a break. “It’s too much for the scheduling and I made the decision to take care of my health,” she said in Berlin, where she’s warming up for Wimbledon.
“I would rather take a short break to ensure that I’m physically and mentally prepared for the hard courts. I’ll be well-prepared before the hard-court season begins. This seems safer to me and healthier for my body.”
Tunisia’s World No. 10 Jabeur posted on X how disappointing it was not to be able to compete at an Olympics for a fourth time.
The necessary physical adjustment would risk my knee and my entire season,” Jabeur wrote.
“I have always enjoyed competing on behalf of my country, but I have to listen to my body and take the advice of my medical team.”
Jabeur hasn’t won a match in his three Olympic competitions.
World No 3 Sabalenka from Belarus said she’d rather have a break. “It’s too much for the scheduling and I made the decision to take care of my health,” she said in Berlin, where she’s warming up for Wimbledon.