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Serena Williams won't play in Tokyo Olympics

AELTC/DAVID GRAY / AFP / Getty

Four-time gold medalist Serena Williams said Sunday she won't participate in the Tokyo Olympics for undisclosed reasons.

"I'm actually not on the Olympic list. ... Not that I'm aware of. If so, then I shouldn't be on it," Williams told reporters, including The Associated Press' Howard Fendrich.

Williams said there are a "lot of reasons" why she's skipping the Summer Games, but she didn't elaborate.

"I don't really want to - I don't feel like going into them today," the 39-year-old added. "Maybe another day. Sorry."

Williams is the latest tennis star to drop out of the Olympics. Both 20-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal and 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem withdrew to rest and recover.

Roger Federer hasn't made a decision yet.

Williams, whose pursuit of a record 24th Grand Slam title continues at Wimbledon this week, won singles and doubles gold at the 2012 London Olympics. She also took home the gold medal in doubles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2000 Sydney Games with her older sister Venus.

The Tokyo Games begin July 23. It was postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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