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Former U.S. Open champion Andreescu latest tennis star to skip Tokyo Olympics
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Bianca Andreescu of Canada plays a forehand during a Wimbledon match in London, England, June 30, 2021. /CFP

Bianca Andreescu of Canada plays a forehand during a Wimbledon match in London, England, June 30, 2021. /CFP

Canada's Bianca Andreescu has decided not to compete at the Tokyo Olympics due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the former U.S. Open champion said on Monday.

Andreescu is the latest big-name player to opt out of the July 23-August 8 Games. Rafael Nadal of Spain, Dominic Thiem of Austria, Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland, Nick Kyrgios of Australia, Serena Williams of the United States and Simona Halep of Romania have already announced their decisions to skip the pandemic-delayed Olympics.

"I have been dreaming of representing Canada at the Olympics since I was a little girl," world number five Andreescu said on Instagram.

"But with all the challenges we are facing as it relates to the pandemic, I know that deep in my heart this is the right decision to make for myself."

The 21-year-old, who last competed at Wimbledon where she lost in the first round, said she looked forward to representing Canada in Fed Cup ties and at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Andreescu became Canada's first Grand Slam singles champion with her 2019 U.S. Open triumph but has had a run of injuries starting with a knee problem at that year's WTA Finals in Shenzhen.

Fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov, who reached this year's Wimbledon semifinals, also said last month that he would not compete in Tokyo.

Source(s): Reuters

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