Jannik Sinner's Olympics exit leads to men's tennis situation not seen in 24 years

Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner announced on Wednesday that he was withdrawing from the Summer Olympics in Paris.

The decision — which came after Sinner was diagnosed with tonsillitis — creates a situation in men's tennis that hasn't happened in 24 years.

Seven-time Wimbledon champion and 14-time major singles title winner Pete Sampras opted out of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney to focus on other tournaments as he recovered from tendinitis in his right shin and a back injury.

Sinner — who was slated to be the top seed in both men's singles and doubles play in Paris — said that doctors had "strongly advised" him not to compete in the Summer Games, according to his statement on X.

The 22-year-old's most recent competitive tennis match was in the Wimbledon quarterfinals against Russian Daniil Medvedev on July 9.

Sinner fell in a five-set thriller , 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 2-6, 6-3. Sinner defeated Medvedev in the Australian Open in January.

The Italian "appeared hampered by illness, with a doctor called to the court to check his blood pressure in the third set before a lengthy medical timeout" during the Wimbledon match against Medvedev, according to a report by James Hansen of The Athletic.