Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Melissa Woods

Injury forces Demon out of Olympic singles

Alex De Minaur has agonisingly withdrawn from Australia's Olympic singles play. (Steven Markham/AAP PHOTOS)

Alex de Minaur has withdrawn from his Olympic singles first round clash with German Jan-Lennard Struff, opting to focus on doubles as he manages his hip injury.

The Australian No.1 suffered the injury at Wimbledon, tearing his hip cartilage in the dying moments of his round-of-16 win over Arthur Fils 

He pulled out of his quarter-final against Novak Djokovic, with the injury appearing to threaten his dream Olympic debut after he flagged a three to six week recovery.

But the world No.6 made it to Paris, desperate to play having been heartbreakingly forced out of the Tokyo Games at the last minute in 2021 after contracting COVID-19.

De Minaur admitted he was still rehabbing the injury but hoped to wear the green and gold on the clay in the France capital, having reached the quarter-finals at the French Open.

However, the AOC announced early on Sunday morning (local time) he had withdrawn from his singles match scheduled for later in the day.

"He has tried to do everything possible to get himself ready to play singles at the Olympics," an AOC spokesperson said.

"He will prioritise men's doubles alongside his childhood friend Alexei Popyrin."

De Minaur and Popyrin face American fourth seeds Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram in their first match.

The Olympic tennis event is being played at Roland Garros until August 4.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.