Serena Williams says she won’t compete at Tokyo Olympics
Serena Williams stated on Sunday that she won’t go to the Tokyo Olympics, however didn’t wish to say why throughout her pre-Wimbledon video convention with reporters.
“I am truly not on the Olympic checklist. … Not that I am conscious of. In that case, then I should not be on it,” Williams stated.
The 39-year-old Williams has received 4 gold medals at previous Summer season Video games for the USA: in each singles and doubles on the 2012 London Olympics — which held the tennis competitors on the All England Membership — and in doubles on the 2000 Sydney Olympics and 2008 Beijing Olympics.
All of her doubles golds have been received along with her older sister, Venus, as her associate.
On the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Video games, Serena Williams misplaced within the third spherical of singles to Elina Svitolina of Ukraine and the siblings have been overwhelmed within the first spherical of doubles. Earlier than that, that they had been 15-0 as an Olympic doubles workforce.
“There’s a number of causes that I made my Olympic resolution,” Williams stated the day earlier than the beginning of main-draw motion at Wimbledon, the place she’s going to attempt to gather her twenty fourth Grand Slam singles title. “I do not actually wish to — I do not really feel like going into them at the moment. Possibly one other day. Sorry.”
U.S. Tennis Affiliation spokesman Chris Widmaier wrote in an electronic mail to The Related Press on Sunday: “In the end, the choice to take part within the Video games is a person one, and as we emerge from the pandemic, we acknowledge and respect the private choices made by our prime athletes relating to participation within the Tokyo Video games. Though we absolutely help the IOC and the (Worldwide Tennis Federation), and have inspired our athletes to take part, we acknowledge the truth that on this distinctive time, some athletes could select to not take part for private causes.”
Different prime tennis gamers reminiscent of Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem even have stated they will skip the journey to Japan, the place the Olympics open on July 23, a yr after being postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Roger Federer stated Saturday he hasn’t determined whether or not to take part within the Tokyo Video games and can determine that out after he sees how issues go at Wimbledon.
Requested what she thinks it will likely be like to sit down out these Summer season Video games, Williams replied: “I’ve not thought of it. Up to now, it has been a beautiful place for me. I actually have not thought of it, so I will hold not excited about it.”
