Related items

• Sinner withdraws from the Paris Olympics due to tonsillitis

  Jannik Sinner will not be participating in the Paris Olympics due to tonsillitis, the world number one confirmed on Wednesday. 

  Sinner has not played since his quarter-final defeat against Daniil Medvedev, during which he left the court after saying he felt unwell. 

  The Italian wrote an emotional post on social media confirming his withdrawal from what would have been the 22-year-old's first appearance at the Olympics. 

  It read: "I am saddened to inform you that unfortunately I will not be able to participate in the Paris Olympic Games.

  "After a good week of clay training I started to feel unwell. I spent a couple of days resting and during a visit the doctor found tonsillitis and strongly advised me against playing.

  "Missing the Games is a huge disappointment as it was one of my main goals for this season. I couldn't wait to have the honor of representing my country in this very important event.

  "Good luck to all the Italian athletes who I will support from home. Forza Italia."

  The Italian has enjoyed a fantastic start to the 2024 season, winning his first major title at the Australian Open before being named the new world number one in June. 

  With Sinner out of the draw, beaten Wimbledon finalist Novak Djokovic is the highest ranked men's player competing in the Olympics, hoping to add to his 2008 bronze medal. 

  It is the first time that the ATP world number one will not take in the Olympics since Pete Sampras in Sydney 24 years ago. 

• Nadal and Alcaraz cautious over gold medal chances at Paris Olympics

  Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz have been generating excitement as they prepare to represent Spain at the Paris Olympics, but have been tempering expectations despite their impressive credentials.

  Alcaraz triumphed at Wimbledon for a second time against Novak Djokovic earlier this month, adding to the French Open title he claimed in June and becoming the youngest player to win major titles on three different surfaces (also the US Open in 2022).

  Nadal, a 22-time grand slam winner, has struggled with injuries over the past two years but reached his first final since 2022 at the Swedish Open last week, only to fall to straight-sets defeat to Nuno Borges in Bastad. 

  The competition gets under way on July 27 at Roland Garros, but Nadal was cautious about Spain's chances of winning a gold medal.

  "I understand a little bit the morbid illusion of seeing us play together but let's not think that this translates into success, I think it's a mistake," Nadal said.

  "Carlos hasn't played many doubles and I haven't played many doubles or many singles lately."

  "We are going to do our best to try, at least, to leave with the peace of mind of having done everything possible to get where we can get (but) obviously, we have not been able to prepare together for a tournament like this, where there are other doubles teams that have been preparing."

  Nadal has previously triumphed in both the singles and doubles events at the Games, winning gold at Beijing in 2008 and in Rio eight years later. 

  Having missed the London and Tokyo Games due to injury, the Spaniard suggested the Olympics were even more special than grand slams. 

  "Unfortunately I have missed Tokyo and London due to injury and it is something that has hurt me more than missing Grand Slams," he said.

  "In the end they are unique experiences, of which there are few in the world, in one's career.

  "The others are very important tournaments for us, but in the end we experience them every year, and well, I value being here very much."

  Alcaraz arrives in Paris full of confidence after claiming his first French Open title a month ago. 

  The 21-year-old believes his success at Roland Garros will be to his advantage heading into the Games. 

  "I have not had the opportunity to play many doubles tournaments, but obviously having the illusion of returning to Roland Garros, to these courts that I have always enjoyed playing... makes it easier," he said. 

  "We also have days of training, individually and doubles to adapt as best as possible again, for my part to return to clay and be able to gain confidence to start the tournament in the best possible way."

  The Spanish pair will find out their opponents for the first round on Thursday, when the draw takes place. 

• USVI secures 2-1 win over hosts Trinidad & Tobago in Davis Cup Americas Group IV round robin

  The US Virgin Islands secured a 2-1 win over hosts Trinidad & Tobago in Davis Cup Americas Group IV Round Robin play at the National Racquet Centre in Tacarigua on Tuesday.

  The hosts got Tuesday’s tie off to a winning start with Kamran McIntosh-Ross securing a dominant 6-0, 7-5 win over Tomas Del Olmo in an hour and 21 minutes.

  McIntosh-Ross had an excellent day on serve, winning 80% of his first serve points and saving all three break points faced.

  The 20-year-old also was able to break Del Olmo’s serve four times.

  Overall, the Trinidadian won 71 points compared to Del Olmo’s 47.

  USVI levelled proceedings at 1-1 when Jan Neuburger-Higby beat Luca Shamsi 6-1, 6-2 in just over an hour.

  Neuburger-Higby won 79% of his first serve points and converted all four of his break opportunities on Shamsi’s serve on his way to a comfortably victory.

  The tie then came down to a doubles match between T&T’s Kale Dalla Costa and Alijah Leslie and USVI’s Del Olmo and Neuburger-Higby which the USVI pair dominated on the way to a 6-2, 6-3 victory.