Friday, July 9th, 2021
Big names are missing from the Olympics
Without fans, Kyrgios has no desire to Tokyo
Without fans, without me: This is how Nick Kyrgios’ reaction to the news that the Olympic Games will take place in front of empty stands can be interpreted. The already ailing professional tennis player is the next prominent player to renounce.
Australia’s tennis star Nick Kyrgios has canceled his participation in the Olympic Games. The spectator ban imposed on Thursday was an important factor in his decision, said the Australian. Most recently, Kyrgios, who was injured during the Wimbledon tournament last week, had already expressed doubts. “The idea of playing in front of empty stadiums just doesn’t suit me. It never has,” he wrote on social media: “I don’t want to take the opportunity of a healthy Australian athlete who is ready to represent the country . “
Kyrgios is the next big name on a prominent list of cancellations for the Tokyo tennis tournament. The Spanish Grand Slam record champion Rafael Nadal had already declared his resignation after the French Open and was also absent from the lawn classic at Wimbledon. The 35-year-old justified this with the lack of time for regeneration and the plan not to risk his health in the medium and long term for short-term success. Nadal won gold in Beijing in 2008.
Dominic Thiem, who won last year’s US Open, is also absent from Tokyo. The Austrian is prioritizing preparation for defending his title in New York and recently announced that he “doesn’t feel ready to show my best performance” at the Olympics. Denis Shapovalov from Canada does not travel to Japan either. His words: “ABased on the current situation, my team and I have decided that this is the best decision for everyone’s safety. “
Serena Williams, on the other hand, kept a low profile about the reasons for her waiver. “There are a few reasons for this decision, but I don’t want to go into that today. Maybe on another day, “said the 39-year-old. The Romanian Simona Halep, number three in the world rankings ahead of Wimbledon, is absent due to an injury, as are the double Olympic champions from 2008 and three Grand Slam winners Stan Wawrinka from Switzerland.
Wawrinka’s partner at the time, Roger Federer, is still uncertain about his start in Tokyo. The 39-year-old had reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, but failed there with a clear defeat and without winning a set. Angelique Kerber, as number one of the German women, has already expressed her will to compete, but after eleven matches in the past three weeks, she also asked for some time to think about it. In 2016 in Rio de Janeiro she won silver in the singles.
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