Alex de Minaur has withdrawn from the Olympic singles first round match against Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff, choosing to focus on doubles while he manages his hip injury.
The Australian number one suffered the injury at Wimbledon, tearing cartilage in his hip in the final moments of his round of 16 win over Arthur Fils.
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He retired from his quarter-final against Novak Djokovic with the injury appearing to threaten his dream Olympic debut after waiting three to six weeks to recover.
But the world number six travelled to Paris desperate to play after being forced to withdraw from the Tokyo Games at the last minute in 2021 after contracting COVID-19.
De Minaur admitted he was still recovering from the injury but was hoping to wear the green and gold on clay in the French capital after reaching the quarter-finals at Roland Garros.
However, AOC announced early Sunday morning (local time) that he had withdrawn from his singles match scheduled for later in the day.
“He has tried to do everything he can to prepare to play singles at the Olympics,” an AOC spokesman said.
“He will give priority to the men’s doubles alongside his childhood friend Alexei Popyrin.”
De Minaur and Popyrin will face American fourth seeds Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram in their first match.
Former Australian tennis player John Millman warned before the Games that de Minaur was more likely to drop out of singles and play doubles if the injury was not fully healed.
“Alex won’t play on court unless he’s 100 per cent ready. He doesn’t want to risk re-injury,” Millman told the ABC Tennis podcast last week.
The Olympic tennis event is being played at Roland Garros until August 4.
AAP/ABC
