Nick Kyrgios, an Australian tennis player, announced his withdrawal from the Tokyo Olympics on Friday, citing a spectator restriction as a major factor in his decision. Despite being named in Australia’s 11-man tennis team, Kyrgios had already placed doubt on his participation when he dropped out of Wimbledon injured last week. The 26-year-old, who had previously complained about quarantine restrictions at the Games, said he would not participate if fans were not present to watch.
“The thought of playing in front of empty stadiums just doesn’t sit right with me. It never has,” he posted on social media. “I wouldn’t want to take the opportunity away from a healthy Aussie athlete ready to represent the country.”
Olympics. pic.twitter.com/ydj1V7jh2t
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) July 8, 2021
The spectator ban was announced because Tokyo is under a state of emergency throughout the Games as the country tries to contain an outbreak of infections.
Kyrgios, a showman who takes pride in his ability to elicit energy from the crowd, said abandoning the Olympics was not a decision he made lightly.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to represent Australia at the Olympics, and I realise I may never get another chance — but I also know myself,” he said.
Despite being ranked 60th in the world, Kyrgios walked out of the 2016 Rio Olympics after a spat with Australian officials over his behaviour. Ian Chesterman, Australia’s chef de mission for the Tokyo Olympics, stated last week that no matter which option Kyrgios chose, he would respect his decision.
