Alex de Minaur has decided not to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
This news brings attention to a strange rule that Novak Djokovic criticized recently. The issue arose from players withdrawing after the draw, which is common in tournaments but problematic at the Olympics.
At the Olympics, when singles players withdraw, they are replaced by doubles players instead of other singles players. Djokovic finds this illogical because it forces doubles specialists into singles matches, often leading to one-sided games. For example, Matthew Ebden couldn’t put up a fight against Djokovic, making for an unexciting match.
De Minaur’s withdrawal due to a hip injury he got at Wimbledon highlights this problem again. He hurt himself trying to reach a ball and had to stop playing in the next round. Even though his hip isn’t fully healed, he will still compete in doubles at the Games.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| au Alex De Minaur | 25 | 3,845 | 29 - 11 |
De Minaur’s Struggles:
“De Minaur has been rehabbing a hip injury he sustained during the fourth round at Wimbledon. Despite doing everything possible to get himself ready to play singles at the Olympics, it arrives too soon.”
“His first-round match was scheduled for later today (Sunday 28 July) against Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany. He will prioritise men’s doubles alongside his childhood friend, Alexei Popyrin.”
Fans might think it’s unfair how injuries can ruin a player’s season so quickly.
It’s been tough for de Minaur despite having a strong year in 2024. He performed well at Roland Garros and looked good on grass before his bizarre hip injury derailed everything. Hopefully, he’ll be fit for the US Open stretch because he could make an impact if he’s healthy.
Hip injuries are notoriously tricky for tennis players to manage.
What do you think about these Olympic rules?
