The Polish tennis squad can’t seem to rid themselves of trouble! Naturally, distress continues for Iga Swiatek. As if Hubert Hurkacz‘s withdrawal from the 2024 Paris Olympics wasn’t enough, the Polish team is now trapped in a deadlock. Subsequently, chances for an Olympic gold medal for the nation are seemingly getting slimmer with the minute.
According to a fresh update, the team will be unable to participate in the mixed doubles category of the quadrennial event. However, that’s not the end of it. The report also suggests that the team was denied entry for a mixed doubles showdown without any reasonable explanation. For the unversed, Hurkacz was scheduled to perform in the singles and later, join forces with World No. 1 Swiatek and Jan Zielinski.
In a tweet posted on X, a passionate tennis fan voiced an update surrounding Poland’s status in the Games. As per sources, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) rejected the Polish Tennis Association’s request for a wildcard entry for the teammates of Swiatek and Zielinski.
This, in turn, will assuredly send shock waves in the Polish tennis community. “Yesterday, the Polish Tennis Association applied to the International Tennis Federation for a wild card for the pair of Iga Świątek – Jan Zielinski to the mixed doubles tournament at the Olympics. The federation rejected the request, citing the regulations, but without any specific justification.
Hurkacz withdrew from the Olympics after sustaining a knee injury during the second round of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. The monster server’s exit will leave Poland without a team for doubles and mixed doubles. Swiatek attempted to reach out to Hurkacz to understand the situation but failed to get a response.
First, a withdrawal and then a denial for a wildcard does little to no favor to Swiatek’s chances of clinching a gold medal for her country. Nevertheless, the 23-year-old might summon noteworthy results in the event’s singles category.
Iga Swiatek to chase glory in singles at Paris Olympics
Unfortunately, Iga Swiatek will skip the mixed doubles action in the absence of Hurkacz and no other partner in sight. However, the World No. 1 will be determined to deliver striking results in the women’s singles category. She will enter the multi-sport event as the heavy favorite. Despite facing an early exit at the SW19, the Polish star has produced impressive results on red clay.
The 23-year-old has bagged four French Open titles and is currently on a 19-match winning streak on the surface. Prior to her victory at the French Open, Swiatek managed to win the Madrid Masters and the Italian Open back-to-back. The 5-time Grand Slam champion will be eager to resume her formidable form on clay.
However, Iga Swiatek’s dream run for glory in Paris will be full of challenges. She will be presented with encounters from Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, and Elena Rybakina. They will be eying to conclude Swiatek’s dominance on clay as the hunt for a gold medal begins in Paris!
