Emma Raducanu will not participate in this year’s Olympics, and she faced inquiries regarding this matter during her time in Washington, where she will compete in the upcoming week. The British tennis player is among the notable athletes who have chosen not to play at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Her decision to withdraw raised curiosity since she has never previously competed in the Olympics.
Several players who had participated in the Olympic Games before decided to withdraw this year in order to prioritize other aspects, such as recovering from injuries or focusing on their careers in the ATP or WTA Tour. However, Raducanu was in good health and had the opportunity to participate in her first Olympics, yet she decided against it. This decision sparked significant interest and analysis, not only from pundits but also from her teammates in the Billie Jean King Cup.
During her stay in Washington, where she will be competing in the WTA 500 tournament next week, Raducanu discussed her reasons for not participating in the Olympics. Instead of going to Paris, she chose to compete in D.C. at the Citi Open, which serves as an early preparation for the US Open. She explained that she was not keen on transitioning to clay courts for just one week, as it would have put a lot of strain on her body. While she admitted to feeling a slight fear of missing out on the Olympic experience, she expressed overall satisfaction with her decision.
“Yeah, I would say for me, it is important to stay on one surface. Switching surfaces right now is not ideal. Maybe in the future it would have been. But at this moment, transitioning from grass to clay, which are such contrasting surfaces, and then back to hard courts, I didn’t want to take any risks.”
“For me, this option was much better. Of course, there is some fear of missing out. Seeing the Olympic ceremony and everyone in their team uniforms, a part of you naturally wants to be there representing your country. But when I consider the bigger picture and long-term goals, I believe I made the right decision.”
She was also asked whether she would have participated if the Olympics had been held on a different surface. It’s an intriguing question, and it is likely that more players would have chosen to compete if the Games had been played on hard courts. Raducanu did not confirm whether she would have participated, avoiding a direct answer, but it is plausible that it would have influenced her decision. However, the reality remains that she will not be playing in Paris but instead at the Citi Open.
“No, I mean, if the Olympics were on a different surface, then I don’t know. Every athlete obviously wants to be part of it. But I had to think about the long-term. Hopefully, I will have more opportunities to participate in the Olympics throughout my career.”
“I believe coming here was definitely the right choice. Playing in the Olympics would have brought immediate satisfaction, but when considering the long-term perspective and my overall health, coming here was the best decision. Plus, I absolutely love this tournament.”
Photo – Emma Raducanu Instagram
