Paris Olympic Games 2024: Holger Rune ‘really sorry’ to withdraw with long-standing wrist injury
Published 25/07/2024 at 08:39 GMT+1
Holger Rune is the second tennis star to drop out of the Olympic Games in Paris. The 21-year-old Denmark player has confirmed that a long-standing wrist injury has prevented him from making his Olympic debut and that he is "really sorry" to miss the event but must "take the medical recommendations seriously". Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner also withdrew ahead of Saturday's opening round.
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Holger Rune has confirmed that he will not participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris due to a long-standing injury.
The 21-year-old announced the news on social media on Wednesday night and said he was “really sorry” to miss the event after suffering from wrist pain throughout the clay and grass court seasons.
Rune was set to make his Olympic debut representing Denmark but has been forced to pull out following his fourth-round exit from Wimbledon earlier in the month.
“I am really sorry that I will be unable to play the Olympics. It's something I've been looking forward to playing and being a part of,” the world No. 16 wrote on X.
“I have played with pain in my wrist throughout both the clay and grass seasons, so I have to take the medical recommendations seriously.
“I will follow the Olympics from home and cheer on all the Danish athletes and I hope and believe that we can bring home many medals from Paris. Come on Denmark.”
Rune is the second high-profile tennis star to drop out of the competition after the Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner withdrew with illness.
The world No. 1 said he was “saddened” by the “huge disappointment” to miss the Games, which he admitted was one of his main targets for the season.
As for Rune, injuries have hampered his 2024 campaign.
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He is a three-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist but since his last eight appearance at Wimbledon in 2023, he has failed to move beyond the fourth round at a major tournament.
This term, he was knocked out of the Australian Open in the second round before exiting in the fourth round at both Roland-Garros and Wimbledon.
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Novak Djokovic, Holger Rune
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The wrist injury cited by Rune on Wednesday is not the only fitness issue he has dealt with recently.
He was forced to retire because of a knee problem during his quarter-final clash at the Hamburg Open against eventual champion Arthur Fils last week.
The men’s singles competition at the Olympics in Paris gets underway on Saturday, July 27, with the draw taking place on Thursday, July 25.
Reigning champion Alexander Zverev will return to defend the gold medal he won at Tokyo 2020, while 22-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic will hope to improve on the bronze he won at Beijing 2008.
Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz is set to feature - where he will also partner Rafael Nadal in doubles - while Andy Murry will also compete in the doubles competition.
discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer.
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