African tennis star Ons Jabeur has announced that she will miss the eagerly-anticipated Paris 2024 Olympics.The 29-year-old is the current Tunisian number one, and the highest-ranked African and Arab tennis player in WTA and ATP rankings history.
The clay court season came to an end at the 2024 French Open and players are now will be set to spend the next few weeks playing on grass.
Grass is a much faster and often slippery surface, and Jabeur has explained that the change of surfaces would put her health at risk, having been dealing with a niggling knee injury.“After consulting with my medical team regarding attending the Olympics in Paris, we have decided that the quick change of surface and the body’s adaptation required would put my knee at risk and jeopardize the rest of my season,” Jabeur wrote in her official X (Twitter) page.
“Unfortunately, I will not be able to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics. I have always loved representing my country in any competition, However, I must listen to my body and follow my medical team’s advise.“Wishing my teammates in the Games, and I will be their biggest support.”
The Paris 2024 Olympics are the first Olympic clay court event since the Barcelona 1992 event was played at Tennis de la Vall d’Hebron.
