World No. 1 Jannik Sinner Withdraws from Tennis at 2024 Olympics with Tonsillitis

Adam WellsJuly 24, 2024

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Jannik Sinner, the top-ranked men’s tennis player in the world, has withdrawn from the Olympics after being diagnosed with tonsillitis.

In a post on X written in Italian (h/t The Athletic’s James Hansen), Sinner wrote he wouldn’t be able to participate in the Paris Games because doctors “strongly advised” him not to play:

“I am saddened to inform you that unfortunately I will not be able to participate in the Paris Olympic Games. After a good week of clay training I started to feel unwell. I spent a couple of days resting and during a visit the doctor found tonsillitis and strongly advised me against playing.

“Missing the Games is a huge disappointment as it was one of my main goals for this season. I couldn’t wait to have the honor of representing my country in this very important event. Good luck to all the Italian athletes who I will support from home. Forza Italia.”

Sinner was scheduled to play men’s singles and doubles in Paris. He was the top seed in the singles draw, but his absence means Novak Djokovic will likely become the No. 1 seed. Reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz could move into the No. 2 spot.

If those seeds hold, it would mean Djokovic and Alcaraz will be on opposite sides of the bracket to potentially square off in the gold-medal match.

The Italian duo of Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti were seeded No. 1 for the Olympics.

Hansen noted Andrea Vavassori will take Sinner’s spot in the singles competition. Matteo Arnaldi or Luciano Darderi will replace Sinner in doubles.

Sinner has yet to participate in the Olympics. He was eligible to participate in the Tokyo Games three years ago, but said in a statement a few weeks before they started that he needed to “focus on my development as a player” before trying to compete at that level.

In the time since the 2020 Games, Sinner has won 11 ATP tournaments. The 22-year-old took home his first grand slam title in January when he defeated Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final.

Sinner most recently lost to Medvedev in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. He also reached the semifinal at the French Open before losing to Alcaraz in five sets.

Italy hasn’t had an Olympic medalist in any tennis competition since Uberto De Morpurgo in 1924.