SERENA TO SKIP THE OLYMPICS
SERENA WILLIAMS will probably join those skipping the Olympics this summer so she can avoid spending time away from daughter Olympia. The American resurfaced in Rome yesterday before her Italian Open first round, and she strongly hinted that Tokyo is not on her itinerary. Williams, who has not played since the Australian Open in February, has been in Europe for the past fortnight, having trained in Nice with coach Patrick Mouratoglou. Asked whether she would travel to Japan under what will be severe restrictions, she said: ‘I haven’t spent 24 hours without (Olympia) so that answers the question itself. ‘I haven’t thought about Tokyo — it was supposed to be last year, now this year. Then there are the Grand Slams. It’s a lot to think about.’ However, she has been practising on clay for the French Open, and she intends to play Wimbledon, too.
Japanese superstar Naomi Osaka was asked whether the Olympics should take place given the Covid situation in Tokyo and she admitted: ‘To be honest, I’m not really sure.’ The world No 2 added: ‘I’m an athlete, and my immediate thought is that I want to play in the Olympics. But as a human, I would say we’re in a pandemic, and if people aren’t healthy and if they’re not feeling safe, then it’s a really big cause for concern.’ British No 1 Dan Evans — another set to skip the Olympics — was beaten 6-3, 6-2 by American Taylor Fritz in the first round of the Italian Open yesterday. Evans and Andy Murray have been confirmed to play at Queen’s Club next month.