Sabalenka to skip Paris to focus on hard courts

World No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka will not play at the Paris Olympics in order to focus on her health and prepare for the hard-court tournaments, the twice Grand Slam champion said on Monday.

The 26-year-old Belarusian won the Australian Open in January but was knocked out by 17-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva in the French Open quarterfinals this month.

“Especially with all the struggles I’ve been struggling with the last months, I feel I have to take care of my health,” Sabalenka told reporters at the Berlin Ladies Open.

“It’s too much for the scheduling, and I made the decision to take care of my health.

“I prefer to have a little rest to make sure physically and health-wise I’m ready for the hard courts.”

Sabalenka will next be in action against Russian Daria Kasatkina in the last 16 in Berlin.

The Paris Olympics run from July 26 to Aug. 11.