Reporter Jonathan Crane from DW in Berlin questioned world No. 3 Sabalenka during the Ecotrans Ladies Open in Berlin. The question concerned the difficulty of going back to clay after the French Open and Wimbledon, as the Olympic tennis tournament will be held on Roland Garros’ clay courts starting on July 27.
In response, Sabalenka stated that she would “not be playing (at the) Olympics,” citing a busy summer schedule as the reason behind her decision.
The two-time Grand Slam winner Sabalenka, who won the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024, revealed that her decision was also affected by stomach troubles she had during her quarterfinal match at the French Open against Mirra Andreeva, when she lost 7-6 (5) 4-6, 4-6. She also mentioned the new WTA regulations that go into effect in 2024 and mandate participation in all 10 Masters 1000 events—those that are one tier below Grand Slam events.
Subsequently, Jabeur, who has advanced to the finals of Wimbledon twice, revealed that she will also be missing the Games due to scheduling conflicts and surface switching. The world No. 10 player from Tunisia said in a statement published on X that she and her group had “agreed that the sudden change of surface and the body’s adaption necessary would put my knee at trisk and imperil the balance of my season…”
Joining Emma Raducanu of Britain, Sabalenka and Jabeur have chosen to concentrate on the arduous schedule of the tennis season rather than accepting the chance to compete at the Olympics.
The 26-year-old Belarusian has already had to significantly alter her game while participating in competitions in the past few years. In the summer of 2022, she will work with her team to fully redesign her serve following a protracted period of difficulty with double faults. In contrast, Jabeur has experienced problems with the knee she describes in her statement throughout her professional life.
How Aryna Sabalenka’s tennis life was altered by tears and a phone call in Toronto. When Wimbledon starts on July 1, both Sabalenka and Jabeur will still be contenders for the championship. After the London tournament, Sabalenka will play on hard courts, which are her preferred surface. The American and Canadian swing will come after Wimbledon.