Jannik Sinner announced his withdrawal from the 2024 Paris Olympics due to tonsillitis, disappointing fans and fellow athletes. The Italian world No. 1, who was set to compete in both the men’s singles and doubles events, received strong advice from doctors to refrain from playing in his current condition.
In his statement, Sinner expressed his regret at missing out on the opportunity to represent his country at such a prestigious event. He had been looking forward to the Games and had made it one of his main goals for the season. Despite his absence, he wished good luck to all the Italian athletes and pledged his support from home.
As a replacement for Sinner in the singles draw, world No. 207 Andrea Vavassori will step in. In the men’s doubles event, either world No. 40 Matteo Arnaldi or world No. 33 Luciano Darderi will team up with Wimbledon semifinalist Lorenzo Musetti.
Sinner’s last match was at Wimbledon, where he struggled against Russia’s Daniil Medvedev and eventually lost in five sets. During that match, Sinner’s illness was evident, and a doctor had to assess him on the court, leading to a medical timeout. Sinner later mentioned in a press conference that he was not in the best physical condition to continue playing.
In addition to Sinner, No. 12 seed Holger Rune also withdrew from the Games due to a wrist injury that has been bothering him throughout the clay and grass court seasons.
With Sinner’s withdrawal, the men’s singles Olympic tennis tournament sees a shift in the seeding. Sinner was originally seeded No. 1, followed by Novak Djokovic at No. 2 and Carlos Alcaraz at No. 3. Alcaraz and Djokovic will now be on opposite sides of the draw, increasing the likelihood of a potential final showdown between the two top players.
The absence of Sinner and Rune opens up opportunities for other competitors to make their mark at the Olympic Games. Fans and tennis enthusiasts will be closely following the developments in the men’s singles event to see who will emerge victorious in Sinner’s absence.
In conclusion, the unexpected withdrawals of Sinner and Rune have added a new layer of intrigue to the men’s singles Olympic tennis competition. As the remaining players prepare to battle it out on the court, the stage is set for an exciting and unpredictable tournament in Paris.
