Lleyton Hewitt has pulled out of being the Australian Olympics team’s tennis coach, amid mounting fears from other attendees about the Zika Virus – a situation that have seen a growing string of athletes and media professionals bailing on Rio.
While some insiders insist the star’s decision has more to do with wanting to focus on his Davis Cup campaign, Lleyton has previously expressed a keen interest in scoring a wildcard doubles entry at the Olympics. The withdrawal comes as high profile figures, including golf star Jason Day and TV host Sam Armytage have spoken out about their concerns about the disease – which is linked to serious birth defects – and how it may affect their future plans to have children.
While he has not commented on any concerns he may have about Zika, it’s well known that Lleyton and wife Bec love having a large family, and haven’t ruled out having more kids.
Zika is primarily spread by tropical mosquitos, but it can also be sexually transmitted – meaning even a partner who does not visit an infection zone may catch the disease from a travelling spouse who has been bitten by an infected mosquito, upon their return to Australia.
In the wake of Lleyton’s decision to pull, out, the Australian Olympic Committee is seeking to replace Lleyton with Mark Draper,
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