Breaking News: Iga Swiatek Faces Potential Olympic Setback Following Hubert Hurkacz’s Shocking Withdrawal Announcement Due To…
Iga Swiatek’s quest for an Olympic Games medal has been dealt a potential blow after prospective mixed doubles partner Hubert Hurkacz confirmed his Paris 2024 withdrawal.
ATP world No 7 Hurkacz was a doubt for Paris 2024 after suffering a knee injury at Wimbledon earlier this month.
The Polish No 1 sustained an injury while diving for a volley during his round two match against Arthur Fils, and retired just points later – after diving for another volley.
The former SW19 semi-finalist confirmed earlier this month he had undergone a “knee procedure” following the incident and was still aiming to play at the Olympics.
However, speaking on his Instagram Story on Monday, Hurkacz confirmed that he was withdrawing from action.
He said: “My rehabilitation is going very well, and I’m making continuous progress. However, my team and I have decided that I’m not able to compete at the Olympic Games in Paris.
“This was a very, very difficult decision because I have always dreamed of representing Poland at the Olympics, being able to win a medal for the national team, but unfortunately, my health does not allow it this year.
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“Of course, I will be watching and cheering for the entire Polish team and following their performance, wishing them as many medals as possible.”
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Swiatek and Hurkacz spearheaded Poland’s United Cup campaign at the beginning of 2024, combining well to anchor the country’s charge to the final – where they were beaten by Germany.
And the duo were considered strong gold medal contenders in the mixed doubles competition at the Olympic Games, with the pair likely to have been among the top seeds in the competition.
Hurkacz’s withdrawal means that Swiatek will likely have one less chance of taking home an Olympic medal.
The WTA world No 1 may still play with doubles specialist Jan Zielinski, but it is unknown how likely of a possibility that is.
However, Swiatek will still go in as a heavy favourite for gold in the women’s singles.
The Pole lost just one match on clay this season and has not lost at Roland Garros since 2021, winning the title the past three seasons – and four times across the last five years.
Swiatek will be the top seed in the women’s singles draw, followed by world No 2 Coco Gauff and world No 4 Elena Rybakina.
It will be a second Games for the Pole, who was beaten by Paula Badosa in the delayed Tokyo 2020 event three years ago.
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Paris 2024 Olympic Games women’s singles seeds: World No 1 Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina lead field
World No 1 Iga Swiatek is set to lead a strong field at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as the top seed in the women’s singles draw.
Five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek is the heavy favourite for gold in Paris, having claimed the last three titles at Roland Garros – the venue where the tennis competition will be held.
The Pole comes in off the back of a disappointing Wimbledon campaign, though will be hard to beat on her beloved clay, losing just once on the surface in 2024.
It will be a second Olympic appearance for the 23-year-old, who was beaten in round two by Paula Badosa at the delayed Tokyo 2020 event three years ago.
Following Swiatek in the draw is world No 2 Coco Gauff, who will be making her Olympic debut after being forced to withdraw from Tokyo after a positive COVID test.
The 20-year-old will be a leading medal contender in all three events she is contesting and has pedigree at Roland Garros, reaching the final in 2022 and the semi-final this year – losing to Swiatek on both occasions.
The biggest absentee is world No 3 Aryna Sabalenka, which means Elena Rybakina will be the third seed in her second Olympics.
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Kazakh ace Rybakina just missed out on a medal in Tokyo, finishing in fourth, and will be looking to better that result at the very least this summer.
Jasmine Paolini rounds out the top four seeds, following a summer surge that saw her reach finals at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
Elsewhere, three of the top eight seeds are American players, with Team USA bringing a formidable tennis squad.
Joining Gauff in the top eight is fifth seed Jessica Pegula and eighth seed Danielle Collins, with both women potential medal contenders in Paris.
US No 5 Emma Navarro – playing in the absence of Madison Keys, another notable player who is skipping the event – is the 11th seed.
Zheng Qinwen and Maria Sakkari round out the remaining seeds inside the top eight, while Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova is set to be seeded ninth.
Sabalenka is the only top-10 star currently set to miss action but plenty of others in the top 20 will not be playing, including Keys, Daria Kasatkina, Ons Jabeur, and Victoria Azarenka.
That means several players are seeded well above their ranking, starting Marta Kostyuk, who is the 12th seed, while recent Wimbledon semi-finalist Donna Vekic will be seeded 14th.
Diana Shnaider – fresh off victory in Budapest – will be 15th seed and compete as a neutral athlete, while Leylah Fernandez is the final seed as things stand.
Women’s singles seeds (as of 22 July 2024)
1) Iga Swiatek, Poland
2) Coco Gauff, United States
3) Elena Rybakina, Kazakhstan
4) Jasmine Paolini, Italy
5) Jessica Pegula, United States
6) Zheng Qinwen, China
7) Maria Sakkari, Greece
8) Danielle Collins, United States
9) Barbora Krejcikova, Czechia
10) Jelena Ostapenko, Latvia
11) Emma Navarro, United States
12) Marta Kostyuk, Ukraine
13) Donna Vekic, Croatia
14) Beatriz Haddad Maia, Brazil
15) Diana Shnaider, Authorised Neutral Athlete
16) Leylah Fernandez, Canada
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