Top female doubles player in the world Martina Hingis (Switzerland) won’t partake in the mixed doubles event at Rio Olympic Games due to unavailability of male compatriots.
While Roger Federer pulled out of the quadrennial event due to injury issues, Stanislas Wawrinka decided not to compete in the mixed doubles to focus on the singles event, thereby robbing Hingis of a mixed doubles partner.
This comes after Belinda Bencic, who was originally drafted to play the women’s doubles alongside Martina Hingis, withdrew her name due to scheduling problems. According to a statement by Swiss Tennis, Hingis will join forces with Timea Bacsinszky instead.
This, however, implies that Viktorija Golubic, who was originally slated to partner Bacsinszky as the other Swiss duo, will be left out of the squad.
“I would [have] of course loved this experience and it [would have been] great to have two Swiss women’s doubles in Rio. But in these circumstances, it is logical that the strongest pair [be] launched into the race,” said Golubic.
The tennis event at the Rio Games will be held from August 6-14.
