Tennis ace Aryna Sabalenka says she has pulled out of the Paris Olympics in order to take care of her health.
The World No. 3 and twice Grand Slam champion added that she also needed to prepare for switching from grass back to clay courts.
The Paris Olympics which begin on July 27 will be played on clay at Roland Garros just two weeks after Wimbledon, which is played on grass, and three weeks before the hardcourt U.S. Open.
Speaking at the Berlin Ladies Open on Monday, the 26-year-old said: “This is a matter of poor planning by the WTA. After the Olympics, we would have to immediately fly to Canada for one of the mandatory tournaments.
“This is a lot of pressure that affects our health. I have to miss one of the events, and at this stage of my career, skipping the Olympics seems to be the best solution.
“It's too much for me. Now we play on grass, at the Olympics - on clay, in Canada - on hard courts. It's crazy and harmful to health.”
She added: “I prefer to have a little rest to make sure physically and health-wise I'm ready for the hard courts.”
Sablenka, who is from Belarus, will not be able to represent her international colors due to the ongoing war in Ukraine but has denied that this influenced her decision to pull out of the Paris Olympics.
She has previously said she does not support Belarus’s authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko and does not support her country being involved in the conflict.
The Paris Olympics which begin on July 27 will be played on clay at Roland Garros just two weeks after Wimbledon, which is played on grass, and three weeks before the hardcourt U.S. Open.
Speaking at the Berlin Ladies Open on Monday, the 26-year-old said: “This is a matter of poor planning by the WTA. After the Olympics, we would have to immediately fly to Canada for one of the mandatory tournaments.
“This is a lot of pressure that affects our health. I have to miss one of the events, and at this stage of my career, skipping the Olympics seems to be the best solution.
“It's too much for me. Now we play on grass, at the Olympics - on clay, in Canada - on hard courts. It's crazy and harmful to health.”
She added: “I prefer to have a little rest to make sure physically and health-wise I'm ready for the hard courts.”
Sablenka, who is from Belarus, will not be able to represent her international colors due to the ongoing war in Ukraine but has denied that this influenced her decision to pull out of the Paris Olympics.
She has previously said she does not support Belarus’s authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko and does not support her country being involved in the conflict.
Source: PAP/Reuters
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