Olympics fervor has everyone on their toes, as every nation rounds up the greatest athletes to represent, and certainly to win. But what happens when an athlete pulls out at the last moment? A controversy, and in the case of the Polish tennis team, that’s what has happened. It all began with Hubert Hurkacz being counted as a double partner with Iga Swiatek and Jan Zielinski. However, the player later withdrew, angering not only the fans but also the Polish Olympic committee. After some harsh exchange of words between the two parties, Marcin Matkowski has now come to the defense of the players.

The former tennis player, Matkowski, has come out in support of Hurkacz and Swiatek as they face the heat from the president of the Polish Olympic Committee. The 43-year-old was steadfast in declaring that being the top Polish tennis players and also the top players in the world, Swiatek and Hurkacz could not afford to take shortcuts in any way. “Where Iga, Hubert, and other top athletes are, there are no shortcuts. Here, there seems to have been some desire to take shortcuts, to settle something quietly: statements and such voices slandering Hubert,” Matkowski said.

What is the saga about? Hubert Hurkacz was supposed to play doubles with his compatriots at the Olympics to increase the nation’s medal tally. Rightly so. With 4-time Roland Garros champion Iga Swiatek in the team, why not enlarge the net by playing mixed doubles? However, Hurkacz’s Wimbledon knee injury was yet to heal properly, and it was just the hopeful murmurs that led to his entry into the doubles. But a wet blanket was put on the Polish hopes when Hurkacz withdrew to recover. And this blew the lid off for the authorities.

Matkowski, however, admonished the POC president for his harsh words, some of which suggested breaking the rules. He said, “The president’s words about punching the card like a worker going to work, calling on Hubert to break the rules of fair play, are completely out of place.” Sports is very different from a worker going to work, or a regular fever. A hiccup in fitness could lead to major career-threatening damages. Hurkacz is still recovering from an injury, hence pushing him to stand on the Paris courts to win a medal might lead to much larger damages. Matkowski also had something similar to say. “Especially since he is not able to play at all, and this is a narrative as if he had been poisoned and had a fever for two days.”

Certainly, the authorities are desperate, as much as Polish fans, who are eager to see their nation at the top of the Podium, in the greatest parade of athletes. After Hurkacz’s withdrawal, his doubles partners would now have to rely on the wild card, as they hope to make it work after this setback.

When Iga Swiatek drew blank from Hubert Hurkacz for mixed doubles participation at the Olympics

The Polish tennis team would have anticipated a calm and comforting start to their Paris campaign. However, Hubert Hurkacz’s withdrawal saga certainly led things to the opposite corner. It was marked by confusion over withdrawal, double partners, events to focus upon, and whatnot. It has been a whirlwind week for Polish tennis. To get over all the mixed thoughts about the Olympics, Swiatek tried to connect directly with Hurkacz to settle things once and for all.

But things didn’t go as planned. According to Swiatek’s team, “Iga tried to call Hubert, but she didn’t get through.” The World No.1 drew blank from her supposedly mixed doubles partner. She wasn’t the only one, as the President of the Polish Olympic Committee also tried to get in touch with Hurkacz’s manager, but to no avail. “I made her realize how important it was for Hubert to be there. I was waiting for a return call with a decision. I never got it,” the POC president said.

It’s a big loss to the Polish tennis campaign at the Olympics, however, the fitness of an athlete remains at the top. A slight slip-up could lead to harsh results.