Injured Vondrousova withdraws from Paris 2024

Marketa Vondrousova won her first Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2023

Olympic silver medallist Marketa Vondrousova has withdrawn from the Paris 2024 Games due to a hand injury.

The Czech, 25, made the decision following her first-round exit during the defence of her Wimbledon title earlier this month.

She became the first Wimbledon ladies singles champion since Steffi Graf lost to Lori McNeil in 1994 to go out in the first round, after defeat by Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

Vondrousova won silver at Tokyo 2020 but posting on her Instagram, she said she would not play at this summer's Games and would focus on preparing for the US Open, which begins on 26 August.

"I am very sorry, but due to health reasons I will not be participating in this year's Olympic Games in Paris," Vondrousova said.

"I hoped until the last moment that I could go at least in doubles, but problems with my hand won't allow me on the court."

She would have been the 12th seed in Paris but she will be replaced on the Czech team by Katerina Siniakova in the singles and Linda Noskova in the doubles.

Vondrousova joins world number three Aryna Sabalenka, Ons Jabeur and Emma Raducanu as notable absentees from the women's event.

Meanwhile, Poland's Hubert Hurkacz, ranked seventh in the world, has also withdrawn from the men's competition.

The 27-year-old has not recovered from a knee injury which forced him to retire from his second-round match at Wimbledon.

"My rehabilitation is going very well, and I am making continuous progress. However, my team and I have decided that I am unable to compete in the Olympic Games in Paris," Hurkacz said.