Czech Republic’s tennis contingent suffered another major blow after country’s No. 2 Jiri Vesely withdrew from the Rio Olympics due to chest pain.
This comes after their best bet and World No. 8 Tomas Berdych pulled out of the quadrennial event citing Zika virus threats.
According to reports, the 49th-ranked Vesely has been prescribed medicines for ten days, and that he is not expected to recover in time for the Games.
“The doctor prescribed antibiotics for me for ten days, so it would be meaningless to go,” Vesely said.
In the absence of Berdych and Vesely, 83rd-ranked Lukas Rosol will be the solitary Czech contender in men’s singles. Rosol will also feature in the men’s doubles alongside compatriot Radek Stepanek.
The event is scheduled to be held from August 6-14 at the Olympic Tennis Centre in Rio de Janerio.
