Adams, who made history by becoming the first ever women’s Olympic gold medal winning boxer four years ago, would have been only Great Britain’s seventh female flag bearer since 1906 and the first to do so at a summer Games since the judoka Kate Howey at Athens 2004.
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So, while not quite as Games averse as their marquee golf contemporaries, elite tennis players aren’t entirely enthralled by the whole Olympics hoopla. The privilege of being the Flag bearer is a moment I will remember for the rest of my life and it will certainly be one of the highlights of my career.
Swiss world number four Stan Wawrinka pulled out of the Olympics Tuesday citing back injury after 17-time Grand Slam victor Roger Federer withdrew with a knee injury last Tuesday and announced he would not play again in 2016.
The three-time grand slam victor will also play in the doubles alongside his brother Jamie, who was ranked No. 1 in the world for doubles earlier this year.
“Winning medals for your country is as good as it gets”, said Murray, who in 2012 became the first Briton in 104 years to win a men’s singles gold medal at Olympics.
“I wasn’t expecting to see so many players at the top of the tennis world pull out but each one of them had their own reason and you gotta respect that”, said Djokovic.
Djokovic, whose best performance was a bronze medal at the Beijing Games in 2008, is the top seed at the tournament which gets underway on Saturday. The 29-year-old tossed aside Japan’s Kei Nishikori’s challenge to win a 30th Masters 1000 tournament, a record he holds alone. Kathleen McKane won five medals (one gold) in the 1920s.
He was beaten by eventual champion Andy Murray in the semi-finals and lost the bronze medal match against Juan Martin Del Potro.
The biggest names aren’t avoiding Rio because of the Zika virus – unlike in golf – but rather injuries.
“I’ve enjoyed that throughout my career and hopefully I can perform well here”.
Eugene Bouchard isn’t letting Zika fears stand in the way of making her Olympic debut.
“Let’s try to make this another incredible Olympics to remember for Great Britain”, he said. “But it’s my time title and I want to keep it that way”.
The 22-year-old will be joined by Vasek Pospisil, Daniel Nestor and Gabriela Dabrowski.
In the women’s event, world number one and defending champion Serena Williams leads the way ahead of Angelique Kerber, Garbine Muguruza, Agnieszka Radwanska and Venus Williams.
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Plus seven Russians – albeit not Sharapova – who’ve passed the International Tennis Federation sniff test.
