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Tennis Players Begin Dropping From Rio Games, Voicing Concerns About Zika Virus

The uncertainty surrounding the Rio Games has "become more pronounced in tennis, with four top players in the last five days having announced that they will skip" the Olympics, according to Ben Rothenberg of the N.Y. TIMES. Milos Raonic, Tomas Berdych, Simona Halep and Karolina Pliskova "expressed concerns over Zika, which had been largely minimized by players who answered questions about the virus during the French Open and Wimbledon." Halep, in a statement on Facebook, said, "I concluded that the risks are too high for my career and for my health, especially as a woman." Although several male players removed themselves from Olympic consideration "because of a desire to focus on ATP events" only one player, Alexandr Dolgopolov, "had mentioned Zika before late last week as a reason for not traveling to Brazil." Horia Tecau, who had "planned to play mixed doubles with Halep" said that the withdrawals by Halep and other athletes had "disappointed him, especially given what he sees as the relatively low risk posed by the virus." Tecau: "It's not a solid enough reason." Rothenberg notes others remain "concerned over the mixed signals." Sam Stosur said that she was "'absolutely, 100 percent going' but admitted that she had more questions about these Games than about the three previous Olympics she had attended." Eugenie Bouchard "remains undecided." Bouchard: "I don’t know if anyone knows enough about it to really give a good opinion on whether, as athletes, we should go or not. I just don’t know if the health of my future babies is worth it" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/21).

OLYMPICS NOT A PRIORITY FOR SOME: U. S. tennis player Sam Querrey on Monday "stated the largely held belief that, for tennis and golf, the Olympics are not a top priority." He said, “I don’t necessarily think (tennis) maybe should be an Olympic sport" (NBCSPORTS.com, 7/21). He added, "We have four other Grand Slams. I think those kind of take the precedent. Those are the main focus for us.” Querrey, who played in the '08 Beijing Games, said that he would "rather focus on his World TeamTennis involvement and preparations for other tournaments than play in Rio" (USATODAY.com, 7/19). 

THE SHOW MUST GO ON: SI's Alan Shipnuck writes a number of withdrawals by top golfers from the Rio Games has "undoubtedly diminished what could have been a marquee event." The loss of players like Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Jordan, Spieth and Rory McIlroy "is damaging," but there are still a few good players "willing to endure a flight on a private jet and stay in a five-star hotel for a chance to represent their country and take a run at Olympic glory." In the absence of the top men's players, the women "will get more of the spotlight." All of the best "will be in Rio, including world No.1 Lydia Ko." Golf is "guaranteed a spot" in the '20 Tokyo Games "but not beyond." So "expect a spirited competition in Rio; not only will the assembled golfers be trying to make a good impression, but they will also understand that their Olympic window is small, and already closing" (SI, 7/25 issue). 

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