- Serena Williams is the latest big-name tennis player to withdraw from Tokyo
- Williams would not confirm exactly why she will not be participating
- The Games have faced heavy criticism for going ahead during the covid-19
Serena Williams announces that she will not be participating in the Tokyo Olympics.
The 39-year-old, who has four gold medals and made her debut at the Sydney Games in 2000, had previously said she was reluctant to go because she would not be able to take three-year-old daughter Olympia with her.
Speaking at the pre-Wimbledon press conference, Serena said:
‘I’m actually not on the Olympic list – not that I’m aware of. If so, then I shouldn’t be on it.’
‘There’s a lot of reasons that I made my Olympic decision. I don’t feel like going into them today. Maybe another day. Sorry.’
Williams joins Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem in deciding not to compete in Tokyo, while Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have not yet committed to taking part.
