Bianca Andreescu will not be traveling to Tokyo to participate in the Olympics after opting to withdraw from the sporting event due to the current pandemic situation.
The 2019 US Open champion released a statement of concern that he described as a difficult decision. He became one of the most recent famous tennis players to withdraw from the sporting event every four years.
Last week Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios also stated that he would not be participating for almost the same reasons. Due to the increasing number of COVID-19-related cases in Tokyo, the Japanese capital declared a state of emergency which prompted the Olympic organizers to ban spectators from attending sports events held in the city.
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Athletes must comply with a very strict ban during the sporting event every four years, plus must undergo periodic tests.
“I want to inform you all that I have to make the difficult decision not to compete in the Tokyo Olympics later this month,” Andreescu wrote on his personal Instagram account.
“I have dreamed of representing Canada at the Olympics since I was a child, but with all the challenges we face regarding the pandemic, I know that in my deepest heart, it was the right decision for myself. I’m looking forward to representing Canada in the upcoming Fed Cup games and competing at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.”
The Canadian has not competed since losing in the first round of Wimbledon to Frenchman Alize Cornet and recently, she parted ways with her coach, Sylvain Brunneau after four years of working together.
The world number 5’s 2021 season has had its ups and downs since starting in Australia when he lost in the second round of the Australian Open before advancing to the semifinals of the Phillips Island Trophy. He then strolled into the Miami Open final against Ashleigh Barty before being forced to withdraw from the final due to injury.
Entering the clay-court season, the 21-year-old tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to miss tournaments in Madrid and Rome before heading to Strasbourg for a warm-up tournament before the French Open. He won two games at Strasbourg before withdrawing with an abdominal injury. He then lost in the first round of the French Open.
Entering the grass-court season, Bianca Andreescu headed to Berlin but lost to Cornet before winning one round at Eastbourne and losing to Anett Kontaveit.
