Top Players Withdraw From Canadian Open Due to Post-Olympic Fatigue

Top tennis players, including world number one Iga Swiatek and Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova, have withdrawn from the Canadian Open due to fatigue and injuries. The withdrawals come after their intense participation in the Paris Olympics. Other notable players also cited health reasons for their absence from the event.

World number one Iga Swiatek, fresh off winning a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, and Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova, headlined a slew of players who have withdrawn from next week's Canadian Open, Tennis Canada announced on Friday.

Swiatek from Poland, who clinched a bronze medal at the ongoing Paris Olympics earlier on Friday, pulled out from the U.S. Open tune-up citing fatigue. Czech Krejcikova, citing a thigh injury, also decided to not travel to Toronto, as confirmed by Tennis Canada. "I'm sorry to announce that due to overall fatigue caused by the last couple of weeks on the court I need to withdraw from the tournament in Toronto," stated the five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek in a Tennis Canada news release.

"Due to an intense tennis schedule with the Olympics taking place this year and changing surfaces, I need more time to rest and recover to be ready to play the US swing in good health and at my best possible level," explained Swiatek. Krejcikova, who rose back to the top 10 following her Wimbledon victory last month, made it to the quarter-finals of both the singles and women's doubles in Paris. "The past four weeks have been incredible; however, the intense schedule has taken a toll on my body, and I need to prioritize my health to ensure I can continue competing at my best," stated Krejcikova.

World number four Elena Rybakina, sidelined by acute bronchitis and thereby unable to represent Kazakhstan at the Olympics, will also miss this year's Canadian Open.

Other withdrawals noted by Tennis Canada include Jasmine Paolini, Maria Sakkari, Danielle Collins, and Caroline Garcia, following their participation in the Paris Olympics. "We understand the unique honour of athletes in an individual sport representing their country at the Olympic Games and that players must do what is best for them in terms of their health, recovery, and schedules," stated Karl Hale, director of the Canadian Open.

(With inputs from agencies.)