Olympic Games: Major blow for Alex de Minaur as Katie Boulter’s tennis star boyfriend is forced to pull out of men’s competition in Paris
- Alex de Minaur has withdrawn from the Paris Olympics
- Australian star suffers from hip injury
- His girlfriend Katie Boulter will be joining in
Alex de Minaur has withdrawn from his first Olympic singles match against Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff, opting to focus on doubles as he struggles with a hip injury.
The Australian No. 1 suffered the injury at Wimbledon, tearing his hip cartilage in the dying moments of his round of 16 victory over Arthur Fils
He withdrew from the quarterfinals against Novak Djokovic, because the injury seemed to jeopardize his dream debut at the Olympic Games. He needed three to six weeks to recover.
But the world number six, who is in a relationship with Britain’s Katie Boulter, still managed to get to Paris, desperate to play after being forced to cancel the 2021 Tokyo Olympics at the last minute due to COVID-19.
It remains to be seen whether De Minaur will be present for Boulter’s first-round match against Slovakia’s Anna Karolína Schmiedlová, which takes place later today.
De Minaur admitted he was still recovering from his injury but was hoping to wear the green and gold on the clay in the French capital after reaching the quarter-finals at Roland Garros.
However, the AOC announced early Sunday morning (local time) that he had withdrawn from his singles match that was scheduled to take place later in the day.
“He has done everything he can to prepare for the singles event at the Olympic Games,” an AOC spokesperson said.
Alex de Minaur has withdrawn from the Paris Olympics
British tennis star Katie Boulter’s boyfriend can’t participate
‘He will focus on men’s doubles, together with his childhood friend Alexei Popyrin.’
De Minaur and Popyrin will face American fourth seeds Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram in their first match.
The Olympic tennis tournament will take place at Roland Garros until August 4.