Versailles, France … Women’s Tennis No. 1 Serena Williams admitted it was a sad day for the Olympics Games with confirmation Jason Day, and male golf’s World No. 1 pulled the plug on teeing-up in Rio.
Day’s decision continues an alarming drain of talent who have turned down travelling to Brazil and over fears of contracting the Zika virus.
Just hours after Day announced his decision and newly-married Shane Lowry also withdrew to leave the Ireland team in total disarray.
“I think it is sad,” said Williams, after reaching the second round of Wimbledon.
She insisted it remains her intention to go to Rio where she will be the defending champion.
Serena Williams sinks her teeth into her 2012 Olympics Games gold medal but says she is sad the likes of Jason Day is not competing in Rio
“I obviously understand where they’re coming from and how they feel. Part of me feels that way, too, which is why I’m going in with a whole mindset of how do I protect myself and also raise awareness for this,” she said.
And Williams said she had never contemplated pulling out of the 2016 Olympics even though the Rio tennis tournament has already suffered a number of withdrawals.
John Isner of the United States, Austria’s Dominic Thiem, Australian duo Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios as well as Spanish veteran Feliciano Lopez have all opted, for various reasons, not to take part.
“I don’t know if they’re missing out. I mean, everyone’s experience is different. My experience has been really amazing at the Olympics,” said Williams.
“It’s difficult for someone that’s in a sport like golf because their main goal, like tennis, is to win slams.
“But for me, I look at the Olympics as a bonus opportunity. It’s probably one thing (the gold medal) I have that I love the most.”
Williams reached the Wimbledon second round with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Swiss qualifier Amra Sadikovic as her mother watched from the front row of the Royal Box.
The 34-year-old world number one, chasing a seventh Wimbledon title and record-equalling 22nd major, took her Grand Slam career record in first rounds to a formidable 63 wins against just one defeat.
- Thanks to AFP
