Belinda Bencic is the latest high-profile tennis player to withdraw from this summer’s Olympics, as she aims to concentrate on her preparations for the US Open.
The world number 16 has been struggling with a wrist injury in recent weeks, with the problem forcing her to retire during her second round clash with Julia Boserup at Wimbledon last month.
Bencic confirmed on social media that she has now recovered from the injury set-back, but the 19-year-old has decided to withdraw from the Games in Rio de Janeiro, as she is behind in her training preparations for the final major of the year.
She wrote: “Although I have recovered from the wrist injury I am behind in my training schedule.”
Bencic admits it was not an easy decision to withdraw from the Games, but she feels that she is not fully ready to return to competitive action in Brazil.
She added: “I’m late with my training program, and therefore not completely ready to play in Rio.
It’s with a heavy heart that I must give up the Olympics. I’ll use the next few weeks to prepare myself.”
The teenager is the second Swiss player to pull out of the Games this week, following 17-time major winner Roger Federer’s withdrawal due to a knee injury that will see him miss the rest of the season.
The likes of Maria Sharapova, who is serving a doping suspension, Victoria Azarenka, who is pregnant, men’s Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic and Tomas Berdych are among the players that have already confirmed they will miss the tournament that is due to get underway next month.
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