2012 Olympic Tennis

[bangkokbobby]

I said I was going to do separate threads for the Majors, which I have done...but the Olympic tennis tournament (which I value above the Majors) deserves its own thread, too...p.s. I voted for Kimmie!

more pics and video on my blog: Maria Sharapova, Li Na, Ana Ivanovic Among WTA Stars Ready For 2012 London Olympics | Fairways and Forehands

Maria Sharapova


In 2008, Maria Sharapova was injured and missed an opportunity to play for the Russian Olympic team. Fast forward to 4 years later and not only will she be the top player on the Russian Olympic Tennis squad, she will carry the Russian flag during the opening ceremony, one of several tennis players who will carry the flag for their country. So far, 8 countries will have tennis players carry their flag, with a few countries who still haven’t named their flag-bearer. It would have been 9 countries, as Rafael Nadal was to have carried the flag for Spain until he pulled out with an injury. Some players have even said that the Olympics mean more to them than the traditional tennis Majors. If I ever lived my tennis fantasy life, I would value the Olympics and Davis Cup above all other tournaments. The honor of playing for my country would be unsurpassed.

Maria Sharapova - Russia | Tennis Player | London 2012 Olympics

Ana Ivanovic - Serbia | Tennis Player | London 2012 Olympics

Caroline Wozniacki - Denmark | Tennis Player | London 2012 Olympics

Li Na - China | Tennis Player | London 2012 Olympics

Masha


Caroline Wozniacki

[Elf]

To lazy to look it up. Who are in the USA team?
Are Medals granted for individuals only or teams?
Thanks in advance BKB.
Looking forward to your posts.

[IceCat]

http://www.london2012.com/tennis/ath...tes/index.htmx

Medals will be awarded in mens and womens singles, mens and womens doubles and for the first time since 1924 mixed doubles will be contested (tennis was not an Olympic sport after 1924 until its reintroduction in 1988). All but the mixed doubles are considered official events for ranking purposes on the ATP and WTA tours and have been since 2004. Although the tournament will be contested at the All England Club at Wimbledon on grass the players will not have to observe the predominently white attire required of the Championship, which concluded earlier this month, but will instead be encouraged to wear their nation's colors.


Tennis at the 2012 Summer Olympics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Kevin

[Saint-Just X]

Ana,of course...



Pax Vobiscum
Saint-Just X

[bangkokbobby]

Originally Posted by Elf

To lazy to look it up. Who are in the USA team?
Are Medals granted for individuals only or teams?
Thanks in advance BKB.
Looking forward to your posts.

Here is Team USA!

Women

Serena Williams


Venus Williams


Christina McHale


Varvara Lepchenko


Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond


The Men Team is: John Isner, Andy Roddick, Ryan Harrison, Donald Young and the doubles team of Mike and Bob Bryan.

[bangkokbobby]

wta tennis players in the london 2012 olympics

[bangkokbobby]

more pics on my blog: Last Chance For Kim Clijsters To Add Olympic Gold To Career Resume | Fairways and Forehands

Kim Clijsters, then and now


Wimbledon and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London were the reasons Kim Clijsters stuck it out the last year and a half despite a laundry list of injuries. She owns 41 tournament titles in singles, 11 in doubles. She has 4 Majors, including 3 US Opens in singles, 2 more in doubles. She’s been ranked #1 in both singles and doubles simultaneously. She’s been WTA Player of the Year. Twice. She’s on her way to the International Tennis Hall of Fame one day. She could have walked away last year when her body kept betraying her. But the chance to take one more shot at winning Wimbledon and a Gold Medal at the Olympics for Belgium kept her going. She played well at Wimbledon but ran into a red-hot Angelique Kerber playing out of her mind that day. Now Kim will have one missing jewel to try to put in her crown, an Olympic medal, preferably Gold.

USANA Brand Ambassador Kim Clijsters on the 2012 London Games

It’s going to be tough. The Olympic tennis tournament is being held on the same courts as Wimbledon, a tournament Kim has never won in singles. In fact, it’s the only Major Kim hasn’t at least reached the final in singles. And there are 3 Wimbledon champions in the draw who will be tough to deal with; Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova. Venus Williams is a five-time champion like her sister Serena, but Venus has not looked good lately. I am pulling for Kim, but I can’t in all honesty call her a favorite. She’s surprised me before, particularly when she won the 2009 US Open in her 2nd tournament back from her first retirement and having a baby. But an Olympic Gold medal would top even that comeback. I’d love to see it happen.

“She has had a terrific career. What she has done, I don’t think there’s anyone else who could have possibly done the same thing – having a baby, coming back and winning Grand Slams, even more than she did before. And she also has a great personality – Kim is terrific for our sport. It’s sad she’s retiring.” – World #1 Victoria Azarenka on Kim Clijsters

By the way, the picture above is from the ITF’s Olympic book Aspire, Inspire: Celebrating Tennis At The Olympics 2012. The pictures show tennis stars now and when they were kids. Here are a few more:

Petra Kvitova


Samantha Stosur


Peng Shuai


Shahar Peer

[bangkokbobby]

more pics on my blog: Li Na Carries Olympic Torch In London 2012 Games | Fairways and Forehands

Li Na


2011 Roland Garros champion Li Na carried the Olympic Torch for a leg during its trip to the 2012 Summer Olympics. The 5-time WTA winner has bounced back nicely from a dismal second half of 2011. Although Li Na has not won an event this year so far, she has played very well. Although the grass at the All-England Club has not been her best surface, she has all the tools to win there. But no matter how she does, it is nice to see her carry the torch for a leg. Tennis players Venus Williams and Elena Baltacha also carried the torch today. Here’s a nice little piece VISA did on Li Na and her Olympic story.

Visa Olympics London 2012: Li Na China Team Visa Athlete Story

[davidyou48]

Couldn't care less who wins - tennis simply shouldn't be in the Olympics, already over-bloated and over-commercialised. Can anyone remember who won in Beijing ?

[bangkokbobby]

I can. And off the top of my head. Rafael Nadal and Elena Dementieva. But sure, most people probably can't remember. But so what? I asked a couple of sports fanatic friends to tell me any wrestling or boxing gold medalist from Beijing and they couldn't. I bet they also couldn't name the gold medal winner in the javelin or shot put either. Let's eliminate boxing, wrestling and track and field.

By the way, they got Rafael Nadal but I think they were guessing since they also said Serena Williams and they like Nadal more than Federer.

Hey, maybe we should eliminate the LPGA tour too, since I bet you none of them could name an LPGA Major winner from this year, unless I give them credit for guessing "some Korean player?". In fact, I will ask...but I am afraid they might guess Lorena Ochoa, Annika Sorenstam or maybe even Michelle Wie.

The commercialization of the Olympics is a an issue decades old at this point. That's a dead horse.

If you simply don't like tennis in the Olympics I can't really comment on that. That's every individual's right. One thing I've learned about forums is you generally can't change anybody's mind. Like in the age rule thread. I won't change DB's mind and he won't change mine. So at this point we're just talking in circles until somebody (me, at this point) gets weary of the back and forth.

But I love tennis in the Olympics. It's a lot more exciting than being at some regular summer hardcourt event this week. And I am looking forward to women's golf in the Olympics.