PRAGUE, Czech Republic – Another top-10 tennis player, Tomas Berdych, withdrew from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics over concerns about the Zika virus on Saturday.
Hours later, another Czech, 16th-ranked Karolina Pliskova said she was withdrawing as well because of Zika.
READ MORE: Milos Raonic to skip Rio Olympics over Zika fears
Berdych, the Wimbledon semifinalist, said “it was a hard decision for me to take after a long and painstaking discussion” with family.
On Twitter, he said “to limit health risks towards my dearest is the utmost priority.”
The eighth-ranked Berdych apologized to those disappointed by his decision.
Pliskova revealed her decision to the local CTK news agency.
READ MORE: Rio 2016: Is the Zika virus a public health risk or an Olympic-size overreaction?
Besides playing the singles, Berdych was expected to team with Radek Stepanek for the doubles at the Olympic tournament, while Pliskova was expected to form a pair with Lucie Safarova.
Their announcements came a day after Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic, and fifth-ranked Simona Halep on the women’s side, withdrew from Rio over Zika.
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