Top Tennis Stars Swiatek And Krejcikova Pull Out Of Canadian Open

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World number one Iga Swiatek and Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova are among the notable players withdrawing from next week's Canadian Open. Swiatek, who made history by becoming the first Polish player to win an Olympic tennis medal at the Paris Games, cited fatigue as her reason for pulling out.

Krejcikova, who recently re-entered the top 10 in world rankings after her Wimbledon success, decided not to travel to Canada due to a thigh injury. "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," Swiatek said in a Tennis Canada news release.

The intense schedule of the Olympics has affected many players. Swiatek mentioned that the combination of Olympic commitments and changing surfaces has left her needing more time to rest. "Due to an intense tennis schedule with the Olympics taking place this year and changing surfaces, I need more time to rest and recover in order to be ready to play the US swing in good health and at my best possible level," she added.

Krejcikova echoed similar sentiments about prioritising health. She was eliminated in both singles and doubles quarter-finals at the Games. "The past four weeks have been incredible; however, the intense schedule has taken a toll on my body, and I need to prioritise my health to ensure I can continue competing at my best," said Krejcikova.

Tennis Canada also announced other withdrawals following the Paris Olympics. Jasmine Paolini, Maria Sakkari, Danielle Collins, and Caroline Garcia will not participate in the Canadian Open. Karl Hale, director of the Canadian Open, acknowledged the unique challenges athletes face when representing their countries at such events.

"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," Hale stated.

Changes in Tournament Line-Up

With these withdrawals, past grand slam champions Sofia Kenin and Sloane Stephens have moved into the main draw for Toronto's tournament. The men's tournament in Montreal also faced setbacks with Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz announcing they would miss the event earlier this week.

Swiatek shared her thoughts on social media about her decision: "Zostan z tym, e cho nie speniam najwikszego marzenia, to na dzi zrobiam wszystko co mogam, eby zagra w #Paris2024 jak umiaam najlepiej, na wasnych warunkach. Dzikuj Wam za wsparcie i zrozumienie niezalenie od oczekiwa. Wrc na igrzyska mdrzejsza."

Krejcikova expressed gratitude towards her supporters: "Thank you for your understanding and support, and I look forward to returning to the court soon." Both players aim to return stronger for future competitions.