Women’s world number five Simona Halep has withdrawn from the Rio Olympics citing concerns over the Zika virus, just an hour after Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic pulled out of the global spectacle due to the same reason.
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Raonic made his first major final at Wimbledon this month.
The Canadian world number seven said he had taken this decision “with a heavy heart” and after “much deliberation with my family and coaches” over a variety of health concerns including the Zika virus, Sport24 reported.
He posted on Facebook: “I am very sorry to announce that I will not take part in this year’s Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro”.
Halep, meanwhile, admitted that she is concerned about the risk the mosquito-borne virus poses to new-born babies as it is known to cause brain deformities.
“We also accept the view of the World Health Organisation that there is no reason at this time to postpone or cancel the Rio 2016 Olympic Games”.
“This was a hard, personal choice and I do not wish for it to impact the decision of any other athlete heading to the Games”.
Eccentric Latvian player Ernests Gulbis described the Rio event as “tennis tourism” as the Olympics do not offer either prize money or ranking points.
Sports minister Liu Peng said China’s delegation had to “keep a clear head, calmly analyze and correctly grasp the serious situation of the Rio Olympics ahead of us”, the official China Sports Daily reported. The two-time Grand Slam champion’s name was on the ITF’s list. Federer won silver in 2012 and Djokovic bronze in 2008.
Golf has been the most affected sport by withdrawals, with all of the top four ranked men’s players in the world – Jason Day of Australia, Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth of the United States and Ireland’s Rory McIlroy – pulling out.
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Eighteen of the top 20 women are slated to go to Brazil, led by reigning gold medalist Serena Williams, who will also seek a fourth Olympic doubles title with sister Venus.
