The number two golf player in the world announced that he will skip the Rio Olympics.
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Wimbledon semifinalist Tomas Berdych says “it was a hard decision for me to take after a long and painstaking discussion” with family.
China topped the medals table at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and came second at the 2012 London Olympics behind the United States, events where Chinese wins were celebrated with an outpouring of national pride, something likely to be repeated in Brazil.
On Nadal, Spanish Olympic Committee President Alejandro Blanco said “I have no doubts over his participation”.
Milos Raonic, runner-up at this month’s Wimbledon, has also withdrawn from the tournament due to Zika virus concerns.
Their decision will not please Radek Stepanek, who was due to form a doubles pair with time-tested Davis Cup teammate Berdych in Rio, and Lucie Safarova, snubbed by Pliskova, who may however team up with Barbora Strycova for doubles.
Halep, the 2014 French Open runner-up, said she too was concerned over the Zika virus and did not want to damage her hopes of having a family when she retires from playing.
Belarussian Azarenka also robbed the Olympics of some star power as the world number six said earlier on Friday that she will miss the rest of the season because she is having a baby.
The event at the Games is scheduled to be held from August 6-14 at the Olympic Tennis Centre.
Rafael Nadal has been given the green light by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to compete at next month’s Rio Olympics despite not fulfilling the qualification criteria.
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Thirteen of the top 15 men’s singles players and 18 of the top 20 women will participate.
