Serena Williams Won't Play in 2021 Tokyo Olympics; Doesn't Want to Discuss Reasons

Serena Williams announced Sunday that she will not compete in the 2021 Summer Olympics beginning next month in Tokyo.

Williams told reporters at Wimbledon that she had reasons for pulling out of Olympic consideration but didn't want to discuss them:

"There's a lot of reasons that I made my Olympic decision. I don't really want to—I don't feel like going into them today. Maybe another day. Sorry.

"I have not thought about it. In the past [the Olympics] has been a wonderful place for me. I really haven't thought about it, so I'm going to keep not thinking about it."

The 39-year-old veteran is one of the most successful Olympic tennis players of all time, winning singles gold in 2012 and doubles gold with her sister, Venus Williams, in 2000, 2008 and 2012.

Only Venus and Great Britain's Kathleen McKane Godfree have more Olympic tennis medals than Serena with five each.

Serena last competed in the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, but she surprisingly left without a medal, as she was upset by Elina Svitolina in the third round of women's singles, while she and Venus lost in the first round of the women's doubles tournament.

Williams' 23 career Grand Slam singles titles are the most of any player in the Open Era, although she hasn't won a Grand Slam title since the 2017 Australian Open.

Serena has reached four Grand Slam finals since then, losing each time. This year, she reached the semifinals of the Aussie Open and the fourth round of the French Open.

Williams is still the No. 8-ranked women's tennis player in the world and the second-ranked American player behind only No. 6 Sofia Kenin.