Breaking News: Polish Olympic Committee President Blasts Hubert Hurkacz Harsfuy for Last-Minute Withdrawal Due to…
Polish Olympic Committee President Radoslaw Piesiewicz doesn’t seem to be too impressed with Hubert Hurkacz’s late withdrawal from the Paris Olympics as he claims he was getting the information that the Polish tennis star was recovering well and that he would be ready to represent his nation.
On Monday, world No. 7 Hurkacz announced that he was pulling out of the Paris Olympics after injuring his knee at Wimbledon. In his message, the 27-year-old Pole confirmed that he was making progress but also added that he didn’t feel ready enough to compete in Paris.
While Hurkacz’s move didn’t only leave Poland without one of its top athletes at the Paris Olympics, it also negatively impacted Iga Swiatek and Jan Zielinski.
For a year, it was known that Hurkacz and Swiatek were planning to play mixed doubles together at the Olympics. Also, Hurkacz agreed to team up with Zielinski in the men’s doubles event – but after he withdrew – former doubles world No. 7 Zielinski was left without a chance to compete in Paris.
“We were counting on Hubert flying to the Olympics, getting his act together. We were in constant contact with the Polish Tennis Association. The message was that everything was going well and Hubert would be healthy. Yesterday, what happened happened. I called the manager right away. We talked, I made her realize how important it was for Hubert to be there. I was waiting for a return call with a decision. I never got it,” Polish Olympic Committee President Piesiewicz said, via TVP Sport.
“It’s (Hubert Hurkacz) and his team’s decision. I respect it, but I don’t understand it. Polish sport and Polish fans lose out on this. This is a huge loss. We keep our fingers crossed for Hubert to recover as soon as possible and fight for Slams, not medals anymore.”
What Hurkacz said in his announcement?
When Hurkacz sustained a knee injury on July 4th, it instantly raised major concerns about his Olympic participation since it was one of the worst moments the Pole could have picked up an injury.
And 18 days after the injury and four days before the start of the Paris Olympics, Hurkacz decided not to go to Paris.
“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,” Hurkacz announced on Instagram on Monday.
“Of course, I will be watching and cheering for the entire Polish team and following their performance, wishing them as many medals as possible.”
Hurkacz’s Wimbledon injury was scary and heartbreaking
In the Wimbledon second round, Hurkacz was down two sets to one versus Arthur Fils and their fourth set was in a tie-break – in which he and the Frenchman were tied to seven points apiece.
In the 15th point of the tie-break, Hurkacz attempted a dive at the net and he actually won that point to open an 8-7 lead and give himself a set point. But it took some time before the Pole got back on his feet and he had to be helped by Fils.
After the trainer was called and Hurkacz received some help, he decided to continue the match. But the match continued for only two points as the Pole decided to retire the match after Fils went 9-8 up in the tie-break.
While Hurkacz’s injury was undoubtedly very unfortunate, some weren’t happy that the world No. 7 retired the match while a match point down. But when Fils was asked about it, he didn’t have any problems with it at all.
“I saw a friend. He was in pain and he couldn’t move. I didn’t care about the score. I was just hoping that the guy is well and he can still walk and everything. He told me that he felt something in his knee. I forgot the score at this point. I was just trying to help him, and just that’s it,” Fils said of Hurkacz retiring while facing a match point.
Now that Hurkacz is out of the Olympics, he will probably switch his focus to being ready for the upcoming Masters events in Montreal and Cincinnati, as well as the US Open.
The Montreal Masters is starting on August 6th and it remains to be seen if Hurkacz will recover in time for the tournament.
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