Wawrinka sidelined from Rio while Groth earns a late call-up
Big serving Sam Groth has been added as a singles player to Australia’s Rio Olympic tennis squad, while Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka joins a host of top-line talent to withdraw from the Games.
Sam Groth has been summoned to Rio. Photo: EPA.
World No.168 Groth accepted the late invitation on Tuesday, boosting the Australian tennis contingent to 10.
Overall the Australian team at Rio now stands at 421.
Australian Olympic team boss Kitty Chiller said Groth was on the ATP tour playing in the United States when told to pack his bags for Rio.
“We’ve just finalised his entry and team leader Alicia Molik is in the process of contacting Sam who is in the States and very keen to get here,” Chiller said.
“We will facilitate that flight as soon as we can.”
Groth’s mood quickly changed after he was bounced out this week in the Atlanta Open first round by a wildcard.
Late call up to join the @AUSOlympicTeam in Rio! Couldn't be more pumped #OneTeam #tennis #RoadToRio
— Sam Groth MP (@SamGrothMP) August 2, 2016
Groth – who holds the world record for the fastest serve (263.4kph) – joins compatriots Thanasi Kokkinakis, John Millman and Jordan Thompson in the Rio men’s singles draw.
His inclusion comes as Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka pulled out of the Olympic tennis tournament because of back problems, further decimating the Swiss team that already has to make do without Roger Federer.
Wawrinka, the current No.4 in world rankings, said his back condition deteriorated during the Toronto tournament last month. He lost in the semifinals in Toronto.
He has started undergoing medical checks in Switzerland and must hold off from any physical activities until the tests are completed, the Swiss Olympic Team said overnight.
“I’m very sad,” Wawrinka said. “I would have liked to go to Rio to take part in my third Olympic games after Beijing and London.”
Federer and Wawrinka won gold in the men’s doubles eight years ago in China.
Wawrinka joins Federer, who is No. 3, along with No. 7 Milos Raonic of Canada, No. 8 Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic and No. 10 Dominic Thiem of Austria in withdrawing from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics for a variety of reasons.
Federer is out for the rest of the year with an injured knee.
No. 5 Rafael Nadal has been sidelined with an injured left wrist since the French Open and has been testing his fitness in Brazil.
Kei Nishikori, No.6, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, No.9, round out the top 10.
Wawrinka won the 2014 Australian Open and the 2015 French Open.
The withdrawals have put the focus on top-ranked Novak Djokovic of Serbia and British Wimbledon champion Andy Murray, the winner in London 2012, as the two top contenders for gold in Rio.
Belinda Bencic has also withdrawn from the Swiss Olympic tennis team, owing to pain in her wrist, leaving Switzerland with only Martina Hingis and Timea Bacsinszky.
