Bryan twins withdraw from Olympics, citing health concerns

Posted July 30, 2016 7:00 am

By The Associated Press

Bob and Mike Bryan will not defend their Olympic doubles title in Rio de Janeiro, citing health concerns.

The American twins announced their withdrawal on Facebook on Saturday, saying that as "husbands and fathers, our family's health is now our top priority."

They didn't mention the Zika virus, which has been linked to birth defects and been cited by several athletes in tennis and other sports who opted to skip the Summer Games that begin next week in Brazil.

The Bryans won a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics, after collecting bronze in doubles at the 2008 Beijing Games.

They have won 16 Grand Slam titles, a record in men's doubles.

The U.S. Tennis Association said it was looking into its options for replacing the Bryans in Rio.

The top-ranked U.S. man in singles, John Isner, and Sam Querrey also are skipping the Rio Olympics. Isner said he is not going because ATP ranking points are not available.

Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic, Wimbledon semifinalist Tomas Berdych and Simona Halep are among the other tennis players who have pulled out of these Olympics. They each cited concerns about Zika.

File-This March 5, 2016, file photo shows Mike Bryan, left, and Bob Bryan playing against Australia's Lleyton Hewitt and John Peers during their Davis Cup doubles match in Melbourne, Australia. Bob and Mike Bryan will not defend their Olympic doubles title in Rio, citing health concerns. The twins announced their withdrawal on their Facebook page Saturday, July 30, 2016, saying that as "husbands and fathers, our family's health is now our top priority." They didn't mention the Zika virus, which has been linked to birth defects. (AP Photo/Andrew Brownbill, File) The Associated Press

Article Comments

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.