Tennis stars Raonic, Halep withdraw from Olympics, cite Zika

Their announcements came a day after Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic, and fifth-ranked Simona Halep on the women’s side, withdrew from Rio over Zika.

On Friday, Wimbledon runner-up and world number seven Raonic, as well as Romania’s world number five Halep, the 2014 French Open runner-up, said they would not make the trip to Rio.

However, the 30-year-old revealed on Saturday that he will not feature in the Games due to uncertainty over the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which has been linked to severe defects in newborn babies.

Wozniacki had failed to qualify after not appearing in three Fed Cup competitions during the Olympic qualification period, but the 25-year-old, who is set to be her country’s flag bearer at the Games, has won an appeal to compete.

“While we understand and respect the concerns over the Zika virus, the International Olympic Committee has assured us that all precautions will be taken to limit the risk to athletes, officials and fans”, ITF president David Haggerty told AFP in a statement.

Rafael Nadal is on the final entry list for the Rio Olympics.

Still, unlike golf, most of the world’s top tennis players plan to go to Rio next month.

Nadal was the gold medallist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics but missed the 2012 London Games because of a knee injury. The two-time Grand Slam champion’s name was on the ITF’s list.

U.S. MEN’S GYMNAST OROZCO OUT OF OLYMPICS: American gymnast John Orozco tore the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee during training this week and will not compete in Rio de Janeiro next month.

World number one Novak Djokovic and 17-time major victor Roger Federer are also playing in Brazil.