Paris 2024 Olympics suffers latest withdrawal blow as 5th seed pulls out
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games have been dealt another withdrawal blow after Team Australia confirmed that Alex de Minaur would not be playing singles at Roland Garros.
Rumours started circulating late last night that world No 6 de Minaur, who was the fifth seed in the singles draw, had pulled out of Paris due to the lingering effects of an injury sustained at Wimbledon.
This morning, the Australian Olympic Committee confirmed that the 25-year-old, who was due to face Jan-Lennard Struff in round one, was not fit enough to play singles – and would instead prioritise doubles.
In a statement, they said: “De Minaur has been rehabbing a hip injury he sustained during the fourth round at Wimbledon.
“Despite doing everything possible to get himself ready to play singles at the Olympics, it arrives too soon.
“His first-round match was scheduled for later today (Sunday 28 July) against Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany.
“He will prioritise men’s doubles alongside his childhood friend, Alexei Popyrin.”
De Minaur and Popyrin, who is also in singles action, will face fourth seeds Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek of Team USA in round one of the doubles.
Singles withdrawal is the latest blow for de Minaur, who was forced to pull out of his Wimbledon quarter-final against Novak Djokovic earlier this month.
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The Australian appeared to injure his hip moments before sealing victory in his round four match against Arthur Fils – and was unable to recover in time for what would have been a third Grand Slam quarter-final.
De Minaur’s singles withdrawal is the latest blow for the men’s singles event, which has been decimated by withdrawals in the build-up to the start of action at Roland Garros.
World No 1 Jannik Sinner, two-time champion Andy Murray, world No 7 Hubert Hurkacz, and Holger Rune are among those to have pulled out of the competition – though, like de Minaur, Murray is still playing doubles.
The volume of men’s singles withdrawals has left a shortage of available players to draft in, with Matt Ebden and Robin Haase – two men who have effectively called time on their singles careers – playing due to the lack of available other options.
De Minaur’s withdrawal now puts the tournament in a similar situation, with another player needed to play singles against Struff later on Sunday.
And the situation could get worse, if Rafael Nadal pulls out – which he has suggested is a possibility.
