Emma Raducanu, the former US Open champion, has made the decision not to represent Great Britain at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris this summer. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) had offered her one of the two spots reserved for Grand Slam winners, however, she has chosen to decline the opportunity.
Iain Bates, the head of Great Britain’s Olympic tennis team, confirmed Raducanu’s decision on Sunday. He expressed that the young athlete values being a part of the British Olympic team but believes that the timing is not suitable for her this summer. Bates supports her choice and believes that she will have many more opportunities to participate in the Olympics in the future.
Raducanu opted to skip the French Open in order to focus on her grass-court season and continue her recovery from wrist and ankle surgeries last year. She is currently competing in the Nottingham Open and is expected to receive a wildcard entry for Wimbledon.
In contrast, Sir Andy Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion and former Olympic gold medallist, has been named as one of the wildcards and will be participating in his fifth summer games. The men’s singles line-up for Team GB also includes Jack Draper, Dan Evans, and Cameron Norrie. On the other hand, Katie Boulter will make her Olympic debut as the sole female tennis representative for Great Britain.
Bates expressed his excitement for the upcoming Olympics, stating that he is pleased with the team selection. He highlighted the debut of four players, along with the experience of Andy Murray, and the strong doubles pairing of Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski.
The Olympic tennis tournament is scheduled to take place from July 27 to August 4 at Roland Garros, the prestigious venue that hosts the French Open. The participating players are looking forward to competing in the highly anticipated event.
Overall, Team GB’s Olympic tennis team is composed of talented and experienced individuals who are eager to represent their country at the international sporting event. With the combination of new faces and seasoned players, the team is ready to showcase their skills on the global stage.