The Tokyo 2020 Olympics are just around the corner, which means that sports fans from all over the world will get to witness the greatest athletes on Earth go toe-to-toe for the ultimate honor in sports competition.
Nonetheless, as it usually happens, multiple superstars won’t take part in the competition, either due to injury or personal reasons. This time, Australian star Dominic Thiem will be one of the biggest names that will be nowhere to be found on the slate.
The U.S. Open champion recently announced his decision not to take part in the Olympics as he looks to get back from an injury. That’s a huge blow for tennis fans as he’s currently the 6th-best player on the planet.
Tokyo 2020: Why Is Thiem Not Playing At The Olympics?
“For me, like all athletes, taking part in the Olympics and representing my country is a huge honor and that makes this decision even tougher,” Thiem said in a statement. “However, 2021 did not start as expected and I don’t feel ready to play my best in Tokyo.”
“After talking with my team and analyzing the situation I have taken the very difficult decision to withdraw from competing in the Tokyo Olympics. I am young and I hope to be able to play for Austria at the Olympics in Paris 2024,” he added.
It’s also worth noting that Thiem didn’t take place in the Rio Olympics in 2016 either, even though it wasn’t due to his health. He was saving himself for an ATP tournament in Mexico which he ended up losing due to injury. Thiem has lost in the last three majors he’s played since winning the U.S. Open last September.
Notably, Thiem won’t be the only big name to skip the tournament, as Rafael Nadal, Simona Halep, and Serena Williams will also be forced to miss the festivities.
