Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur decide not to participate in Paris Olympics 2024

Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka and two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur have withdrawn from the Paris Olympics 2024. Both these players do not want to play on clay courts immediately after Wimbledon to be held on grass courts. 

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'I prefer to have a little rest'

Sabalenka said she made the decision for health reasons and because she wants to conserve strength for the summer hard court season. “It’s too much for the scheduling and I made the decision to take care of my health,”

“I prefer to have a little rest to make sure physically and health-wise I’m ready for the hard courts. I’ll have a good preparation before going to the hard-court season. I feel that this is safer and better for my body.” Sabalenka added.

'I must listen to my body'

World No. 10 Jabeur from Tunisia wrote on social media that not being able to play at a fourth consecutive Olympics was unfortunate. “We (and my medical team) have decided that the quick change of surface and the body’s adaptation required would put my knee at risk and jeopardize the rest of my season,” Jabeur wrote.

“I have always loved representing my country in any competition, However, I must listen to my body and follow my medical team’s advise.” Jabeur competed at the last three Olympics without winning a match.

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This will be the first Olympic tournament on red courts since 1992

The Paris Olympics 2024 in the French capital will be played from July 27 to August 4 at the Roland Garros complex and will be the first Olympic tournament on red courts since Barcelona 1992. This will make it even more difficult for tennis players, as the Paris Olympics 2024 come immediately after the grass season and before the competitions on hard courts in North America, which included two consecutive UTA 1000 tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati, followed by the US Open in New York, where Azarenka reached the final last season.