Olympic tennis faces star withdrawal due to injuries, scheduling conflicts

The first round of Olympic tennis is set to begin, but the competition will be without some of the sport's biggest stars, including world no. 1 Jannik Sinner. Several players are sidelined by illness and injury, while others have opted for the demanding schedule of the professional circuit this summer. The summer season is usually packed with prestigious tournaments like the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, making the Olympics seem less significant by comparison.

The former no. 1 Irish player and author Conor Niland noted that while the Olympics are the pinnacle of sports such as athletics and swimming, they do not have the same prestige in tennis. He stated that while every player would like to win the Olympics, it does not compare to winning a Wimbledon title. That sentiment is evident among the top American players, with only two of the five US men's singles players ranked in the top 30 in the world representing the nation at the Games.

The switch to the red clay in Paris for the Olympics is disruptive for American players, who tend to have less experience on clay compared to their European counterparts. The change in court surface requires players to adjust their movement and tactics, which can be challenging given the high level of precision required in the sport.

Several players have also expressed concern about the timing of the Olympics, as it falls at a difficult time in the tournament calendar. Rising 21-year-old American star Ben Shelton, world No. 14, mentioned that returning to Europe to play on clay disrupts his preparation for the US Open. Other players, including Madison Keys, Ons Jabeur and Karen Khachanov, have also cited the difficult surface as a factor in their decision not to participate in the Olympics.

Injuries have also played a big role in the withdrawal of players. At Wimbledon this year, nine singles players withdrew mid-tournament due to injury. Hubert Hurkacz, the no. 7 men's player from Poland, had to withdraw from the Olympics due to a knee injury sustained at Wimbledon. Other top players, including Holger Rune and Marketa Vondoursova, have also withdrawn due to hand and wrist injuries.

The most notable withdrawal came from Sinner, Italy's top men's player, who announced just two days before the start of the competition that he has tonsillitis and is too ill to play. The following day, women's third seed Elena Rybakina also withdrew due to acute bronchitis.

Despite the prestige associated with the Olympics, the absence of prizes or changes in rankings makes it less attractive to some players. The glory of an Olympic medal does not rival the prestige or financial reward that comes with a Grand Slam trophy. As such, many players prioritize maintaining their ranking and securing sponsorships over participating in the Olympics.