Paris Olympics: No Stopping Coco Gauff From Dream American Glory as WTA Rivals Go on a Withdrawal Spree With Ons Jabeur Being the Latest

Emma Raducanu
Aryna Sabalenka
Ben Shelton
Andrey Rublev
Paula Badosa
None of these tennis stars will be a part of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Now further, with several WTA players opting out of the Olympics, Coco Gauff seems to be benefitting.

Players are currently busy preparing themselves for a transition between surfaces and sticking to it. After switching from the slowest to the fastest courts, players will need to adapt to the slowest courts once again for the Olympics. A sudden change can be bad for their knees and that’s the reason Ons Jabeur added her name to the list of players who won’t go to the Olympics. 

In a recent revelation on her Instagram story, the French Open quarter-finalist mentioned that she will have to risk injury to face the intense tussles of playing on clay after two tournaments on grass. “After consulting with my medical team regarding attending the Olympics in Paris, we have decided that the quick change of surface and the body’s adaptation required would put my knee at risk. Unfortunately, I will not be able to participate in the Paris Olympics 2024,” she shared.

The physical toll of transitioning to different surfaces is immense. The footwork and play-style require adaption and the impact on the legs and stamina are physical aspects that are tested differently on each surface. For Jabeur, who still faces issues after knee surgery in early 2023, returning to clay after playing on grass could spell a major disaster. With this, Jabeur becomes another top 10 absentee.

Raducanu too was not happy with the surface. “With the changing surface, it’s just not worth the risk for me at this point,” she pointed out.

Similarly, Sabalenka withdrew to focus more on her health. She faced a stomach illness during her French Open quarterfinals and lost to Mirra Andreeva earlier this month. “Especially with all the struggles I was having last month, I feel like I need to take care of my health … It’s too much with the scheduling,” the Belarusian said.

While Jabeur’s withdrawal is a saddening update for her nation- Tunisia, it is great news for American tennis fans and Coco Gauff. After the remarkable addition of a double grand slam to her glittering portfolio, the young American will be looking forward to chasing glory for her nation. However, one big challenge still stands in Gauff’s way.

Who can deny Coco Gauff her Olympic dream?

The announcement that several players will not be playing at the upcoming Paris Olympics is surely a sigh of relief for those who are competing. Even after several competitors have decided to clear Coco Gauff’s path, Iga Swiatek still stands in her way. The Pole displayed overwhelming dominance at the 2024 Roland Garros, with Gauff being her victim in the semifinal.

As she made it evident that her claws were deep under the red dirt, the Paris Olympics could be the stage for her first Olympic medal, after a disappointing 2nd round elimination in 2021. Swiatek has proved to be the biggest hurdle for the young American, especially on clay. In a total of 12 showdowns, Swiatek served her with disappointing defeats 11 times, with three back-to-back defeats in the French Open.

There’s a high chance that they could see each other once again at the games and play their fourth match in Roland-Garros. Her current game is not enough to achieve a triumph over the four-time French Open champion. She will need major changes if she wants a victory over Swiatek and the medal. Is she up to the task?