Austrian tennis standout Dominic Thiem to skip Olympics

At 22, Dominic Thiem is the youngest player in the top 20 of the rankings. (Andrew Medichini/AP)

ROME — Fresh off a win over Roger Federer, 15th-ranked Dominic Thiem says he won’t be competing at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The Austrian says he’ll play a tournament in Los Cabos, Mexico, instead in August, "so I don’t play the Olympics."

At 22, Thiem is the youngest player in the top 20 of the rankings. He beat Federer 7-6 (2), 6-4 Thursday in the third round of the Italian Open.

Thiem says "there are many reasons. Maybe I’m going to explain it another time."

Earlier this year, Thiem told Austrian TV he considers Grand Slam events and Masters series tournaments more important than the Olympics in tennis, adding, "other sports are more important at the Olympics and that’s OK."

Thiem won two titles this year on the ATP Tour.

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