On Saturday night, Venus’ availability for doubles was put in doubt by US women’s tennis coach Mary Joe Fernandez, who said the four-time gold medalist and seven-time Grand Slam champion had cramping, dehydration and an upset stomach following a first-round loss in singles. The sisters had won their previous 15 matches, winning gold medals at Sydney in 2000, Athens in 2004 and London in 2012.
Advertisement
Some players said conditions were tricky due to soaring temperatures and a strong breeze drifting across from the ocean.
Neither Safarova nor Strycova, meanwhile, ever had won an Olympic doubles match, going a combined 0-3 with other partners.
Both women have also won Olympic gold medals in singles play, with Venus triumphing in Sydney and then Serena becoming champion in London. Strycova was a late replacement for the doubles team, however, after the first choice withdrew because of concerns over the Zika virus.
In the last match to completed on the first day of play, Tsonga’s countryman Gael Monfils joined him in the second round, the No. 6 seed enjoying a comfortable 6-1 6-3 win against Vasek Pospisil of Canada. The newly formed duo had only played one match together before Sunday night’s match and had lost that in a Fed Cup match a year ago. “We have a chance to compete for our country and did the best that we can”.
“To beat Venus Williams on the center court, one of the biggest champions in our history, that (gave me) goosebumps all over the place”, she told reporters. Venus Williams, however, was beaten in her singles first-rounder on Saturday. Fernandez also said Venus was dealing with cramping, dehydration and an upset stomach after Saturday’s loss.
I wasn’t playing the way I needed to play, I wasn’t crossing the way I needed to cross, it was what it was.
It was a good day all round for Japan, as Nishikori’s teammates Taro Daniel and Yuichi Sugita were surprise winners later on against Americans Jack Sock, the No. 14 seed, and Brian Baker respectively.
Advertisement
“Lucie was playing unbelievable from the baseline”, Strycova said.
