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Denis Shapovalov says he won’t compete for Canada at the Tokyo Olympics.
The 22-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., says in a Twitter post he made the decision for safety reasons “due to the current situation.”
Opposition within Japan to holding the games has been high. The country has been dealing with a high number of COVID-19 cases and a low vaccination rate.
Shapovalov is the top-ranked Canadian on the ATP Tour at No. 12.
He withdrew from the French Open at the end of May, saying on social media that his shoulder had been bothering him and he needed to rest.
Earlier that month, Shapovalov made it to the final of the Geneva Open, losing to Norway’s Casper Ruud in the title match.
Shapovalov most recently advanced to the semifinals of the Queen’s Club tournament in London, where he lost to Britain’s Cameron Norrie.
Several other tennis stars have already pulled out of the Games, including Rafael Nadal, who said on Twitter last week that he is listening to his body and attempting to prolong his career.
Several top tennis players have passed on previous Olympics, which fall during a busy period in the sport’s schedule.
Canada’s Milos Raonic pulled out of the 2016 Rio Olympics, citing concerns about the Zika virus.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 21, 2021.
The Canadian Press