Ons Jabeur and Aryna Sabalenka have announced they will not compete in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, prioritizing their health and the rest of their tennis season. World number three Sabalenka, who retained her Australian Open title in January but recently lost in the French Open quarter-finals, cited the need for rest and recovery. The 26-year-old Belarusian emphasized the importance of being physically ready for the upcoming hard court season, particularly after recent struggles.
Jabeur, ranked world number 10, has been dealing with a recurring knee injury. The 29-year-old Tunisian expressed concerns about the quick transition between grass, hard courts, and the clay courts at Roland Garros, where the Olympic tennis competition will be held from July 27 to August 4. Jabeur mentioned on social media that the rapid change in surfaces could jeopardize her knee and the remainder of her season.
The decision by both players comes with the backdrop of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which means athletes from Russia and Belarus can only compete as neutrals in Paris. Notably, Russian men’s world number four Daniil Medvedev plans to compete as a neutral athlete.
Despite skipping the Olympics, Sabalenka is preparing for Wimbledon by playing in Berlin, having reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon last year. Wimbledon runs from July 1 to July 14, with the US Open starting shortly after the Olympics, on August 28.
