Bianca Andreescu latest tennis star to pull out of Tokyo Olympics

Canada's Bianca Andreescu on Tuesday became the latest tennis player to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics set to begin in ten days time.

Bianca Andreescu in a file photo. (Credit: Twitter/@WTA_Strasbourg)
By Shayne Dias | Jul 13, 2021 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Canada’s Bianca Andreescu on Tuesday became the latest tennis player to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics set to begin in ten days time.

“I would like to inform you that I have made the very difficult decision to not play in the Tokyo Olympics later this month,” Andreescu said.

“I have been dreaming of representing Canada at the Olympics since I was a little girl. But with all the challenges we are facing as it relates to the pandemic, I know that deep in my heart, this is the right decision to make for myself.”

The 21-year-old last competed at Wimbledon where she lost in the first round. However, she did add that she looked forward to representing Canada in Fed Cup ties and at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Andreescu becomes the second Canadian tennis player to pull out of the Games. Men’s singles star Denis Shapovalov also chose to not take part in the Games.

Bianca Andreescu latest in long line of withdrawals

However, it isn’t just Canadian stars who won’t be at the Games. This year’s tennis event at the Olympics looks likely to be the least star-studded affair in years.

Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and Dominic Thiem have all pulled out while others such as world number one Novak Djokovic are not yet certain.

Newly crowned Wimbledon champion Djokovic said on Sunday he was “50/50” over playing in Tokyo. He said he was sad that fans won’t be at events during the Games.

Roger Federer is also not a lock-in for the Games. After his Wimbledon elimination this year, Federer said he was uncertain over going to Tokyo.

The lack of tennis stars at the event merely adds to the issues already at hand for the organisers. They have had to face not only organisational hurdles due to the pandemic, but also local opposition.

Tokyo entered another state of emergency recently, meaning fans won’t be at events. However, even before that, the citizens of Japan were largely against the Games.

In fact, a local newspaper even wrote a full editorial asking the Japanese Prime Minister to get the Games cancelled. The kicker? That newspaper is a sponsorship partner of the Games.

As things stand, the Games are set to go ahead from July 23 to August 8.





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