Rafael Nadal will be fit and ready for Rio, the head of the Spanish Olympic Committee insisted Thursday, even though the 14-time Grand Slam title victor is still sweating on his place in the squad.
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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) – American singles players Steve Johnson, Denis Kudla and Brian Baker have had their appeals approved by the International Tennis Federation’s Olympic Committee to compete at next month’s Rio Games.
There were no major surprises on the list released Friday by the ITF, which includes Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Roger Federer on the men’s side and Serena Williams, Angelique Kerber and Garbine Muguruza for the women.
Overall, 14 of the top 15 men are on the roster, with No. 9 Dominic Thiem the only one missing. Federer will again team up with fifth-ranked Stan Wawrinka for Switzerland – they won gold together in 2008. Five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova will miss the Olympics because of her doping suspension.
USA women’s tennis coach Mary Joe Fernandez nominated six players with four singles entries and two doubles teams. Singles entries were based off the top 56 players in the June 6 rankings, with other ways to qualify for the final eight spots.
Twins Bob and Mike Bryan already were set for the team and will look to repeat as doubles gold medalists.
The 30-year-old, who missed the 2012 Games through injury, has been named as his country’s flag bearer in the opening ceremony and will be one of four Spaniards competing for the men’s singles gold medal. The U.S. has won 21 Olympic medals in men’s and women’s tennis since it returned as a full medal sport in 1988 – more than any other nation.
Eighteen of the top 20 women are slated to go to Brazil, led by reigning gold medalist Serena Williams, who will also seek a fourth Olympic doubles title with sister Venus.
No one will know exactly who is competing in mixed doubles until everyone is in Rio.
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US men’s tennis coach Jay Berger also nominated six players, including four singles entries and two doubles teams.
