Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic and former French Open finalist Simona Halep announced their withdrawals yesterday.
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Halep, who is now ranked fifth in the world, reached the final of the 2014 French Open, losing to eventual victor Maria Sharapova.
Tennis Canada said, pending invitation by the International Tennis Federation and Canadian Olympic Committee approval, it will nominate veteran Daniel Nestor of Toronto to replace Raonic in the men’s doubles draw to partner with Vasek Pospisil of Vancouver.
“It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing my withdrawal from participation in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games”, he said on his Facebook page.
Brazil will consider increased security measures for next month’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro after a terror attack in France, officials told Brazilian media Friday, dpa reported.
“Family is much too important for me and I can’t risk not being able to have one of my own after my career in tennis is over”, she said.
While Raonic is the current world number seven, she recently made waves at SW19 only to lose in the final to crowd favourite Andy Murray.
However, the 30-year-old revealed on Saturday that he will not feature in the Games due to uncertainty over the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which has been linked to severe defects in newborn babies.
Outside of golf and now tennis, American cyclist TJ Van Garderen has withdrawn citing the Zika virus.
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On Twitter, the Czech says “to limit health risks towards my dearest is the utmost priority”. “I do believe that if you take a deeper account of my reasons you will understand that I have done it out of the responsibility for my family”, Berdych added.
