Ons Jabeur skips Paris Olympics citing health reasons

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jun 18, 2024 01:18 IST

Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur has become the latest high-profile player to announce her withdrawal from the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris. The former world No. 2 shared the news on social media on Monday, citing the demanding tennis calendar as a primary reason. Jabeur, a three-time Grand Slam finalist, was considered one of Tunisia’s best hopes for a podium finish at the Olympics.

"After consulting with my medical team regarding attending the Olympics in Paris, we 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," she wrote in a statement. "I have always loved representing my country in any competition, However, I must listen to my body and follow my medical team's advice. Wishing my teammates the best in the Games, and I will be their biggest supporter."

In the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Tunisia celebrated two medals—a gold in swimming and a silver in taekwondo. Jabeur’s participation would have been anticipated to add to this success. Her decision to skip the event underscores the growing concern among top tennis players about the grueling tournament schedule. "I prefer to have a little rest to make sure physically and health-wise I'm ready for the hard courts," she said in pre-tournament press at the ecotrans Ladies Open in Berlin. "I'll have a good preparation before going to the hard-court season. I feel that this is safer and better for my body."

Jabeur joins another former top-ranked player, Aryna Sabalenka, on the Olympic sidelines. Sabalenka, the reigning Olympic champion, also announced her withdrawal, highlighting scheduling challenges as a key factor. The tennis calendar has been increasingly taxing, with a quick shift from clay to grass between the French Open and Wimbledon, and then back to clay for the Olympic tennis event scheduled to take place on Roland Garros' clay courts from July 27.

Jonathan Crane of DW in Berlin asked world No. 3 Sabalenka at the Ecotrans Ladies Open in Berlin about the difficulty of transitioning between surfaces within such a short period. Sabalenka confirmed she would not participate in the Olympics, emphasizing that something had to be sacrificed due to the packed summer schedule.