For Health's Sabalenka Chooses Not To Participate In The Paris Olympics

Aryna Sabalenka's action on March 22, 2024 at Miami Gardens, Florida. (ANTARA/Getty Images/AFP/Al Bello/pri)

JAKARTA - World number three women's tennis player Aryna Sabalenka said through AFP, Tuesday, June 18, if she was going to miss the 2024 Paris Olympics in order to prioritize her health.

"Especially with all the struggles I've experienced in the last few months, I feel I have to take care of my health," said Sabalenka, quoted from ANTARA, Saturday, June 18.

"This tournament is too much for scheduling and I made a decision to take care of my health," he added.

The 26-year-old Belarusian player lost to young Russian player Mirra Andreeva in the French Open quarter-finals earlier this month.

Meanwhile, this summer's tennis match took place at the Roland-Garros clay field between 27 July-4 August and the US Open began three weeks later.

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, athletes from Russia and Belarus who qualify for the Olympics can only compete as neutral athletes in Paris.

Australian Open Champion Sabalenka will return to action this week in Berlin, after suffering stomach pain at Roland-Garros.

After that, he is expected to appear at Wimbledon, starting July 1.

"It was the worst experience I had in my life on the pitch," he said, referring to his performance at the French Open.

"I play when I'm sick, I've played in an injury, but when you have stomach pain and don't have the energy to play and you're in the Grand Slam quarter-finals, it's a very bad experience," he added.

According to Sabalenka, this is a satirical warning to his body which has undergone many matches this year.

"I think my body is just asking for a break. I managed to find a few days to relax and recover after heavy months," he said.

Not only Sabalenka, Tunisian Ons Jabeur women also recently announced their absence from the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Jabeur said the decision to miss the Olympics between July 27 and August 4 at Roland-Garros was a decision in depth, as he had just undergone surgery on his right knee last year, and sought to maintain his postoperative physical condition.