Aryna Sabalenka: World number three will not play at Paris Olympics

World number three Aryna Sabalenka has announced that she will not be competing at the Paris Olympics in 2024. The Belarusian player, who is currently ranked third in the world, cited a need for rest and time to prepare for the upcoming season. Sabalenka's decision comes after a grueling year in which she won her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open and reached the semi-finals of the US Open. She also reached the final of the Wimbledon Championships, losing to Marketa Vondrousova in a thrilling match. Sabalenka's absence from the Olympics will be a blow to the Belarusian team, who will be looking to improve on their performance at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. In Tokyo, Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka reached the semi-finals of the women's doubles, before falling to the Czech Republic team of Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova. Sabalenka's decision to skip the Olympics will give her the opportunity to rest and recharge ahead of the 2024 season, which will include a new Grand Slam tournament in Paris. The Belarusian is likely to be a contender for all four Grand Slam titles in 2024, as well as the year-end World Tour Finals. Despite her decision to skip the Olympics, Sabalenka remains a strong contender for the world number one ranking in 2024.

Summary

"Aryna Sabalenka, the world number three tennis player, has decided not to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics. This decision is driven by her desire to prioritize rest and preparation for the upcoming season, which includes a new Grand Slam tournament in Paris. Sabalenka's absence from the Olympics will be a blow to the Belarusian team, but it will allow her to focus on her individual goals and potentially achieve the world number one ranking in 2024."