The tennis world is buzzing as the start date for the 2024 Paris Olympics approaches. The games are due to start on Saturday, and unsurprisingly, several top women’s players are on the entry list. These include French Open champion Iga Swiatek (Poland) and Coco Gauff, who was named the U.S. flagbearer alongside LeBron James. However, several players have also withdrawn from the Paris Olympics. This article lists all the players who have elected not to play and then names their replacements. We at LWOT also reported on the men’s players to withdraw from the Paris Olympics.
Full List of Women’s Players to Withdraw From Paris Olympics
Which Players Have Withdrawn?
Aryna Sabalenka (Individual Neutral Athletes) was the biggest name to withdraw from the Paris Olympics. The two-time Australian Open champion said this was due to the packed schedule. Once the event is over, players who competed at the games will have to immediately adapt to the North American hard court season. Sabalenka, who withdrew from Wimbledon with a shoulder injury, feels the surface adaptation would put too much strain on her body.
Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan) withdrew late on Thursday from the Paris Olympics after the draw had been made. The Kazakhstani Tennis Federation confirmed the 2022 Wimbledon champion was suffering from acute bronchitis. As a result, her doctors did not allow her to travel to Paris. Hopefully, the world No. 4 can make a swift recovery for the North American hard court season.
Ons Jabeur (Tunisia) was another high-profile player to withdraw from the Paris Olympics. Her reasoning is the same as her close friend Sabalenka’s. Jabeur has been managing a knee injury throughout the season, and she feels switching to hard courts so quickly after could lead to an injury.
Marketa Vondrousova (Czech Republic) also withdrew from the Paris Olympics. Last year’s Wimbledon champion confirmed this was due to a hand injury. She had hoped to play doubles, but due to the severity of the injury, that is not possible.
Madison Keys (United States) was another player to withdraw from the Paris Olympics. Some were surprised by her decision since she had a very good clay-court season this year. However, the former US Open runner-up said she was being cautious after missing the start of this season with an injury.
The other players who withdrew were: (editor’s note: this list will be continuously updated until the Olympics begin)
Daria Kasatkina (Individual Neutral Athletes)
Liudmila Samsonova (Individual Neutral Athletes)
Victoria Azarenka (Individual Neutral Athletes)
Anna Kalinskaya (Individual Neutral Athletes)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Individual Neutral Athletes)
Sorana Cirstea (Romania)
Elise Mertens (Belgium)
Veronika Kudermetova (Individual Neutral Athletes)
Anastasia Potapova (Individual Neutral Athletes)
Anna Blinkova (Individual Neutral Athletes)
Elina Avanesyan (Individual Neutral Athletes)
Who Replaces Those Players in the Draw?
Bianca Andreescu (Canada) is the most notable name to enter the Paris Olympics entry list. The 2019 US Open champion came back from a long injury at this year’s French Open, meaning she will have fond memories of Roland-Garros. She reached the third round in Paris before losing to the eventual runner-up Jasmine Paolini.
The other players now set to feature at the Paris Olympics are:
Clara Tauson (Denmark)
Jaqueline Cristian (Romania)
Cristina Bucsa (Spain)
Lucia Bronzetti (Italy)
Viktoriya Tomova (Bulgaria)
Varvara Gracheva (France)
Viktorija Golubic (Switzerland)
Julia Grabher (Austria)
Tamara Korpatsch (Germany)
Laura Siegemund (Germany)
Moyuka Uchijima (Japan)
Petra Martic (Croatia)
Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (Slovakia)
Camila Osorio (Colombia)
Daria Saville (Australia)
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
