Tomas Berdych withdraws from Rio Olympics over Zika concerns
By Stephen Turner
Last Updated: 16/07/16 4:44pm
Tomas Berdych is the latest high-profile tennis player to rule himself out of next month's Olympic Games.
The world No 8, who was beaten by Andy Murray in the Wimbledon semi-finals, joins Milos Raonic and Simona Halep in withdrawing over concerns about the Zika virus.
Berdych said in a statement on Twitter: "I am very sorry to announce that I will not take part in this year's Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
"It was a hard decision for me to take after a long and painstaking discussion with my dearest. It's purely my personal decision but I still feel a need to give at least one of the serious reasons leading to this step to my supporters and fans.
"It is because of the Zika virus spread in the country of the Olympics. As I have founded a family recently, to limit health risks towards my nearest is the utmost priority.
"I apologise to all of you who are disappointed. I do believe that if you take a deeper account of my reasons you will understand that I have done it out of the responsibility for my family.
"I wish the Czech team a big success and I hope that I will soon be honoured to defend the Czech national colours again."
Zika has been linked to birth defects in South America, and the World Heath Organisation is advising Rio officials on the best way to limit the risk of contracting the mosquito-borne virus.
But a May 28 bulletin from the WHO said there was "no public health justification for postponing or cancelling the games".
