MX23RW : Monday, December 16 09:39:43| >> :600:74953003:74953003:

Marcos Baghdatis pulls out of Rio Olympics due to injury

World number 42 Marcos Baghdatis announces that he will not participate at this summer's Olympics in Rio due to an elbow injury.

Marcos Baghdatis has pulled out of this summer's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro due to an elbow injury.

The 31-year-old had been due to participate in his third Games having reached the second round in 2004 and the third round in London four years ago.

However, the Cypriot has now withdrawn from the competition and will continue with his rehabilitation in an effort to return to fitness in time for the US Open, which starts on August 29.

"The news with regard to my left elbow injury is bad, I am afraid. The pain is still there niggling and does not go away. It is clear that unless I am 100% fit and healthy to compete, I shall not participate at the ‪‎Olympics‬ because I would be doing injustice to my country in being unable to compete 100%," he wrote in a Facebook post.

"I am honoured that my country has entrusted me to represent it at ‪‎Rio 2016‬ together with my other fellow athletes. It is therefore with great sadness that I now announce my withdrawal from the Cyprus Olympic Team. I have already informed the Cyprus Tennis Federation.

"I wish the ‪‎Cyprus‬ Team all the very best of success at the Games, and shall cheer for them as loud as I can. The plan is now for me to continue my rehabilitation program so hopefully I can compete in 3 USA tournaments, culminating with the US Open Tennis Championships."

The world number 42 joins Roger Federer, Milos Raonic and Tomas Berdych in pulling out of this summer's Games.

ID:277728: cacheID:277728:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2552:
Written by
Barney Corkhill
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Eugenie Bouchard in action on day three of the Australian Open on January 20, 2016
Read Next:
Bouchard to make "last-minute" Olympics call
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!