(L) Milos Raonic and (R) Simona Halep 
Sports

Raonic, Halep pull out fearing Zika

Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic and women's world number five Simona Halep of Romania have pulled out from next month's Rio Olympics due to fears over the Zika virus.

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They, along with twice Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, who is pregnant, will not be making the trip to Rio even though they were included in the final list of participants issued by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) on Friday. 

The big-serving Raonic, who lost to Andy Murray in the men's championship match at the All England Club on Sunday, was the first tennis player to pull out of the August 5-21 Olympics due to concerns over the mosquito-borne Zika virus. 

"It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing my withdrawal from participation in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games," world number seven Raonic, 25, said in a statement issued by Tennis Canada. "After much deliberation with my family and coaches, I am making this decision.”

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