Sports
Jannik Sinner Withdraws from Paris Olympics Due to Tonsillitis
World number one Jannik Sinner has decided to prioritize his health by withdrawing from the Paris Olympics due to tonsillitis, ensuring he can return to the court stronger than ever.
The Italian star showed incredible resilience at Wimbledon despite battling illness during his quarter-final match against Daniil Medvedev earlier in July.
Sinner, who has been in spectacular form this year, was one of the top contenders for the gold medal on the Paris clay, having reached the French Open semi-finals and celebrated his first major title victory at the Australian Open in January.
“After an excellent week of clay training, I noticed some discomfort,” the 22-year-old shared on X. “I took a few days to rest, and during a doctor’s visit, tonsillitis was diagnosed, and I was advised to take it easy.”
Though missing the Games is a disappointment for Sinner, who had set it as one of his primary goals for the season, this break will provide him with the opportunity to recuperate fully.
The tennis tournament, scheduled from 27 July to 4 August, will see Novak Djokovic stepping into the top seed position in the singles draw on Thursday.
Several players are taking this time to focus on recovery and future tournaments, including Marketa Vondrousova, who withdrew due to a hand injury, and Hubert Hurkacz, who also stepped back. Other notable players taking a pause include Britain’s Emma Raducanu, world number three Aryna Sabalenka, and two-time Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur.
The upcoming Olympic competition will still feature exciting matches, with Djokovic, Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz, and US Open winner Coco Gauff ready to showcase their talent.
With the Olympics occurring just 13 days after Wimbledon and concluding three weeks before the US Open, the event offers a compact yet thrilling schedule. The tennis competition will feature men’s and women’s singles and doubles, as well as mixed doubles.
Andy Murray is preparing for an inspiring performance for Great Britain as he looks forward to a memorable conclusion to his playing career. He will join Dan Evans, Jack Draper, and Cameron Norrie in singles. Murray and Evans will pair up in doubles, while Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski are strong contenders for medals in the same category.
In women’s tennis, Katie Boulter proudly represents Britain in the singles and will team up with Heather Watson for doubles. Watson and Salisbury are also set to compete in mixed doubles, promising an exciting lineup for the games.
Warren Gatland is set to leave his role as Wales head coach after a record-breaking 14 consecutive Test match defeats, bringing an early end to his second tenure in charge.
Although the 61-year-old was contracted until the 2027 Rugby World Cup, he was already expected to step down after the Six Nations. Now, his departure will come midway through the tournament, with Wales still set to face Ireland on 22 February in Cardiff, Scotland on 8 March, and England on 15 March.
Possible successors include former Australia coach Michael Cheika, Glasgow’s Franco Smith, and Ireland interim boss Simon Easterby.
Gatland, who enjoyed a highly successful 12-year first stint with Wales—winning three Grand Slams and leading the team to two World Cup semi-finals—returned in December 2022 to replace Wayne Pivac. However, his second tenure has been marred by poor performances, with Wales suffering their worst losing streak in 144 years of international rugby. The 22-15 loss to Italy last weekend cemented their decline, dropping them to 12th in the world rankings.
In total, Gatland has overseen 151 Tests across both spells, with 76 wins, 73 losses, and two draws. His recent record stands at just six victories in 26 matches, a win ratio of only 23%.
Tiger Woods has pulled out of this week’s Genesis Invitational, stating he is “still processing” the recent death of his mother, Kultida Woods.
The 15-time major champion, who had initially planned to participate, announced his withdrawal on social media, saying, “I planned to tee it up this week, but I’m just not ready. I did my best to prepare, knowing it’s what my mom would have wanted, but I’m still processing her loss.”
Woods’ mother, Kultida, passed away on February 4. Just days later, tournament organizers had confirmed Woods’ participation in the event, which is now being held at Torrey Pines instead of its usual Riviera Country Club venue due to wildfires in Los Angeles.
Woods has not played a PGA Tour event since The Open at Royal Troon last July. His competitive appearances have been sporadic since a 2021 car accident left him with severe leg injuries, and he underwent additional back surgery in September. Most recently, he played alongside his son, Charlie, in a 36-hole event in December and participated in an exhibition for the Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL), which he co-founded.
As the tournament host, Woods hopes to attend the Genesis Invitational later in the week but has not committed to a specific timeline. The event benefits his TGR Foundation, which supports youth education initiatives.
Fans and fellow players have expressed their condolences and support for Woods as he navigates this difficult time.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Radu Dragusin has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in his right knee. The 23-year-old sustained the injury during Spurs’ Europa League clash against Elfsborg last week and will undergo surgery.
Dragusin is expected to be sidelined for at least six months, though recovery from ACL injuries can sometimes extend to a year. Tottenham confirmed that their medical team will monitor his rehabilitation to determine his return timeline.
The Romanian international had become a key figure for Spurs, starting 21 of their last 23 games. His absence adds to an already extensive injury list, which includes Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Timo Werner, Wilson Odobert, Cristian Romero, and Dominic Solanke. However, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies have recently returned to action.
Dragusin joined Tottenham from Genoa in January 2024 in a £25 million deal. To bolster their defensive options, Spurs signed Austria international Kevin Danso on loan for the remainder of the season, with an option to buy for £21 million. They also made an ambitious £70 million bid for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, which was rejected, but secured the signing of 19-year-old attacker Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich.
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