The American twins announced their withdrawal on Facebook yesterday, 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 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.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
