Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka and two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur have nith dropped out of the 2018 Olympic Games in Paris. Both ladies, who are ranked in the top 10, placed their withdrawals down to schedule concerns.

The pair have joined a host of top tennis talent who have pulled out in recent weeks from the premier sporting event, stating their bodies would not cope well with the rigours of switching from grass at Wimbledon back to clay at Roland Garros for the Olympics and then immediately turning to the hard-court season in North America. Sabalenka, who has won the past two Australian Open women’s singles titles, confirmed her resignation from the Paris Games in Berlin on Monday – where she is scheduled to play Daria Kasatkina in the final 16.

While Tunisian World No. 10 Jabeur took to X to explain that participating in the Olympics is too much of an ask of her body. “We (and my medical team) have decided that the quick change of surface and the body’s adaptation required would put my knee at risk and jeopardize the rest of my season,” Jabeur wrote.

“I have always loved representing my country in any competition, However, I must listen to my body and follow my medical team’s advice.” Other top players to withdraw from Olympic competition include Elise Mertens, Andrey Rublev, Ben Shelton and Karen Khachanov.

2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu has also rejected the chance to represent Great Britain at the Olympics so she can concentrate on the US hardcourt season and also referenced the grass-to-clay change a major factor behind that decision. And with the serious possibility of more withdrawals to come, the tennis world has debated whether tennis should even be played at the Olympics as top players often prioritise the majors over competing for their country.