Australian Tennis player Nick Kyrgios confirmed his withdrawal from the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, saying a ban on spectators attending the Games was a major factor in his decision to quit.

“The thought of playing in front of empty stadiums just doesn’t sit right with me. It never has. I wouldn’t want to take the opportunity away from a healthy Aussie athlete ready to represent the country,” the World No 60 posted on social media.

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“It’s been my dream to represent Australia at the Olympics and I know I may never get that opportunity again — but I also know myself,” his message further read.

Kyrgios had pulled out of the ongoing Wimbledon last week citing an abdomen injury. He had previously complained about quarantine restrictions at the Olympics and cast doubts about his participation. He was named in Australia’s 11-strong tennis team.

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“Look, I don’t know about the Olympics or Atlanta just yet. If I’m to play the Olympics, I’ve said it numerous times, I want to do it the right way. I want to do it with full crowds, with my guests there. I want to do it when I’m able to watch other athletes do their thing. That’s the Olympics for me,” he said, according to ESPN.

“The Olympics, the way it’s going to go on, is not the Olympics. That’s not what it is for me. With these restrictions, that’s not how I want to remember the Olympics either if I play it just one time. We’ll see. We’ll see what I do.”

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Japanese officials announced the ban on spectators because Tokyo is under a state of emergency throughout the Games, as the capital attempts to contain a surge of infections.

Kyrgios, a showman who revels in his reputation for drawing energy from the crowd, said quitting the Olympics was a step he had not taken lightly.

Kyrgios, who is regarded as a box office draw despite being ranked 60th in the world, also pulled out of the 2016 Rio Olympics after a row with Australian officials over his behaviour.

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Australia’s chef de mission for the Tokyo Games, Ian Chesterman, said this week that he would respect Kyrgios’ decision regardless of which option he took.

Nick Kyrgios joins a long list of Tennis players -Stan Wawrinka, Simona Halep, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Simona Halep, and Dominic Thiem – who have pulled out of the Tokyo Olympics.