Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton are out! As the Paris Olympics gear up to kick off on July 26, many tennis stars are making the tough decision to skip the grand event and focus on other endeavors. This move has certainly raised a few eyebrows within the tennis community, sparking debates and discussions. However, amidst the chatter, the American tennis stars have found a strong voice of support—none other than their compatriot, Andy Roddick.

Roddick discussed a wide spectrum of topics in the latest episode of his podcast, Served, which was aired on July 16. He also shed light on the Paris Olympics which is less than two weeks away, and discussed the decision of several players, who decided to withdraw from the tournament. In doing so, he seemed to support the actions of Ben and Frances.

Speaking on the podcast, Roddick said, “If Francis doesn’t, if he if he values staying back and trying to make a run at the US Open which we know he’s capable of, that seems like a rational decision.” The Summer Olympics are all scheduled to be played on the clay courts of Roland Garros where both Tiafoe and Shelton have not achieved major success. However, their success has been remarkable at the US Open with both reaching the semifinals of the tournament in 2022 and 2023 respectively. Continuing further, Roddick justified their decision by using his own example. 

“I qualified three times I went twice. I recovered from an injury in 2008 to my shoulder and decided to play two tour events instead so I could get matches to go into the US Open.” The 2003 US Open winner had faced a shoulder injury in 2008 at the French Open, eventually withdrawing from the Olympics. He rather participated in hard-court tournaments in the US Open Series, including those in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Roddick further justified by expressing that if certain players are deciding to play, it doesn’t imply that every other player needs to follow the trend.

Roddick’s support comes despite the subtle warning from the International Tennis Federation. Earlier, it requested the players, eligible to qualify to participate in the tournament if fit, and doing otherwise might lead to serious consequences. However, both Tiafoe and Shelton decided to opt out of the tournament due to the transition challenges.

The players, who played recently on grass at Wimbledon will have to transition to clay for the Games and then again to the hard courts for the American swing. Besides, the tournament also clashed with Tiafoe’s hometown Citi Open in Washington, D.C.

Nevertheless, with the Olympics set to take place in Los Angeles in 2028, it is also anticipated that these players can try their luck after four years. Interestingly, Olympics-related woes are not just limited to American tennis players.

Tennis stars out of Paris Olympics over politics

In a surprising move that came a few days back, Russian tennis stars Aslan Karatsev and Veronika Kudermetova, found themselves barred from the Games before the tournament had even begun. Apparently, it all boils down to politics!

Due to the ongoing tussle with Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee(IOC) had earlier decided to entertain the players from Russia only if they chose to come under a neutral banner. To ensure that the players are as such, several tests were marked for the players. However, both Karatstev and Kudermetova seem to have failed in the same as they faced a rejection from both the International Tennis Federation(ITF) and the IOC.

The former World No.9 had played in a uniform that displayed the logo of Tatneft, until last year. Tatneft is a Russian oil and gas company that has witnessed sanctions from the European Union. However, for Karatstev, the reason stands unclear. 

With the tournament approaching, it remains uncertain if more players will face scrutiny from the ITF and IOC. However, the confirmed participants promise an exciting competition.