Serena Williams shocked the fans as she confirmed that she will not be participating in the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Serena Williams addresses the decision.
Serena Williams had previously expressed her concern regarding her participation in the high profile event due to the travel restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic. She confirmed the news to the reporters at Wimbledon on Sunday.
It has been noted that the organisers have prohitbited the family members of thr athletes to attend the Olympic Games as per the safety protocols and the overseas spectators are also been left out. However, the domestic crowds will be allowed but with limits.
It seems that the restrictions on international arrivals would have kept Williams away from her three-year-old daughter Olympia.
She spoke about the reasons for withdrawal from the event. She said: “I’m actually not on the Olympic list, not that I’m aware of. If so, then I shouldn’t be on it.”
Serena Williams said there are a lot of reasons behind her decision but she did not revealed them just yet.
She added: “There’s a lot of reasons that I made my Olympic decision. I don’t really want to — I don’t feel like going into them today. Maybe another day. Sorry. I have not thought about it. In the past [the Olympics] has been a wonderful place for me. I really haven’t thought about it, so I’m going to keep not thinking about it.”
Williams is set to begin the Wimbledon and will aim to capture the title for the eight time which is a record-equaling 24th Grand Slam title. She will clash with Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus on Tuesday.
Previously, Naomi Osaka had announced withdrawal from Wimbledon due to her mental health reasons, while 2019 champion Simona Halep pulled out because of injury. Williams had seeded sixth for this year’s Championships.
Williams had won gold in the London Games when she had defeated Maria Sharapova in the final, and won in doubles in Sydney in 2000, Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012 with sister Venus Williams.
Pulling out of the Olympic Games is a manor decision and we will keep updating once more details are revealed.