Serena Williams not planning on playing Tokyo Olympics

Serena Williams is the latest tennis star to decide against playing the Olympics in Tokyo. Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem and many others have already pulled out of the Tokyo Games.

Serena et Venus Williams (USA)

Chris Oddo

June 27, 2021

Four-time gold medalist Serena Williams plans to forego a chance for more Olympic glory in Tokyo this summer.

Williams, speaking to the media at her pre-tournament press conference at Wimbledon, said she isn’t planning to go to Tokyo.

“I’m actually not on the Olympic list,” Williams said. “Not that I’m aware of. If so, then I shouldn’t be on it.”

Serena Williams is not playing the Olympics. “I’m actually not on the Olympic list. If I am, I shouldn’t be on it.”
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) June 27, 2021

Williams has won three Olympic gold medals in doubles (Sydney 2000, Beijing 2008 and London 2012). She won Olympic singles gold at London in 2012.

Asked to elaborate on her decision, Williams said: “There’s a lot of reasons that I made my Olympic decision. I don’t really want to – I don’t feel like going into them today. Maybe another day. Sorry.”

Last month, when asked by a reporter if she would go to the Olympics if it meant being separated from her daughter Olympia, she replied:

“I haven’t spent 24 hours without her, so that kind of answers the question itself.”

If Williams doesn’t play Tokyo, she would be replaced by Jessica Pegula on the American team. Sofia Kenin, Jennifer Brady and Coco Gauff are the other three Americans that have qualified for the Olympics based on their singles ranking.

Tennis at the Olympics will be held from July 24 to August 1 in Tokyo.