World No 3 Aryna Sabalenka, Belarus, is skipping the Olympics in Paris.
This year's Australian Open winner is prioritising rest and preparation instead for the hard court season.
I prefer a bit of rest to make sure I'm physically and mentally ready for the hard court season. I feel it's safer and better for my body, says Sabalenka.
The Olympic tennis tournament is played on clay at Roland Garros and comes almost directly after the short grass court season with Wimbledon as the highlight.
After the Olympics, the hard court season begins, with the US Open in focus.
It's too much on the schedule, says Sabalenka, who is playing on grass in Berlin this week.
The Belarusian was knocked out in the quarterfinals on the Roland Garros clay in the French Championships recently.
