Four-time American gold medallist Serena Williams has announced that she will not be travelling to Tokyo for this year’s Olympics, saying she was not on the Olympic list and that she did not feel like attending the Games.
Speaking at a pre-Wimbledon press conference on Sunday, Williams said, “I’m actually not on the Olympic list–not that I’m aware of. If so, then I shouldn’t be on it.”
She added, “There’s a lot of reasons that I made my Olympic decision. I don’t feel like going into them today. Maybe another day. Sorry.”
According to The Guardian, the restrictions on international arrivals would have separated Williams from her daughter Alexis Olympia, who was born in 2017.
Williams, 39, joins Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem in deciding not to take part in the Games. Other big names like Roger Federer (who pulled out of the French Open in June in order to allow his body time to recover from two knee surgeries) and Novak Djokovic has also yet to commit to their participation in this year’s Games, which will take place amid an unprecedented global pandemic.
Williams has won 23 Grand Slams and four Olympic gold medals, having participated in the Games in 2000, 2008, 2012 and 2016. She will be participating in the ongoing Wimbledon Games. By contrast, Naomi Osaka has pulled out of Wimbledon but will be competing in the Olympics.
This year’s Olympics, originally scheduled for 2020 but delayed due to the pandemic, will take place amid growing criticism as countries grapple with repeat waves of infections from the novel coronavirus, with fears that the event could drive a surge in cases and mutant variants. However, Japanese authorities have been resolute that the Games go on, with restrictions including allowing just 10,000 local fans and barring public screening events in the capital.
The United States have won the most number of medals in tennis at the Olympics since it was reinstated as a medal Olympic event in 1988. Representing the US at this year’s games will be Jennifer Brady, Coco Gauff, Sofia Kenin, Tayolr Fritz and Tommy Paul.
