Former World No.7 Tim Mayotte is of the opinion that the American quartet of
Ben Shelton,
Madison Keys,
Frances Tiafoe and
Sebastian Korda will end up regretting making themselves unavailable for selection for the upcoming
Olympic Games in Paris.
Mayotte won a silver medal in the tennis event at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. The 63-year old reacted to his compatriots not being named in the US Olympic team, following their decision to turn down the chance to compete in Paris this summer.
The decision could come back to haunt them, says Mayotte
The United States confirmed their tennis squad for the 2024 Games with World No.2 Coco Gauff headlining the women’s team. The reigning US Open champion will be joined by Jessica Pegula, Danielle Collins and Emma Navarro on the clay in Paris. World No.12 Taylor Fritz is the highest-ranked American male with Tommy Paul, Chris Eubanks and Marcos Giron also making the list.
Navarro, Eubanks and Giron were initially expected to miss out as they are ranked lower than Keys, Shelton, Korda and Tiafoe, but the latter four turned down the chance to compete at the Olympics. This led Mayotte to state the quartet could end up regretting representing their country at the quadrennial event.
“Unless they win Wimby and/or the Open they will regret it for the rest of their lives,” wrote Mayotte on Twitter.
Although Keys and Tiafoe have represented the United States at prior Olympic Games, Shelton and Korda have not. Shelton released a statement in March claiming he would like to focus on the US Open, but added he would love to compete at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
