Which country do you think stands a good chance at the Olympics? (This is for WTA only...)
I've been thinking Serbia, USA, Russia...? Who is playing and who isn't? Anything official released yet?

I think quite a lot of top players have expressed their desire to compete in Beijing. Daniela Hantuchova has said it's her top aim, Maria Sharapova obviously wants to compete and Serena Williams is planning on competing. And wasn't it one of the reasons for Davenport coming back?

I can't see the two Serbs turning down the chance to represent their country in Beijing and Jelena competes everywhere anyway ;)

I was just looking at if there are any tickets left. Would be amazing to go watch. But it's a bit late now - plus, would have to plan a trip around the world too!

I would love to see the Serbs do well, the Williamses and Lindsay will do America proud. The Russians will be good too.

I'm sure there would be tickets left for the tennis at the Beijing Olympics. Like I said in another thread, Brits should be glad we have two GS tourney on our doorstep, compared to other people.

I see Vaidisova has taken a tumble from your wall of fame ;)

Just realized now I have Varsity tests during the Olympics so no chance I can travel. Did some research to maybe watch Masters Cup but that's going to cost me way too much money and I'd rather get French Open or Wimbledon tickets (good ones) for next year and see both the WTA and ATP players.

As for Nicole, after her poor attitude yesterday and the way she stormed off court, I kinda gave up on her. And hey, its a Super 7, you know? She'll have to win my heart back over again. :P

Well it was also one of Marys aims for coming back, but shes still not fit so the fact shes not going to Beijing probably spells the end :blub: :blub: :blub: :blub: :blub: :blub: :blub:

When did they announce this? The last I heard, Mary Pierce was selected for the team along with Cornet, Golovin and Cornet.

i was told on WTA world that she has only been selected for the sake of being on the team rather than to compete. If you know different please tell me :pray: :pray: :pray:

You might be right. The articles I have seen didn't exactly say an awful lot but left the reader with the impression she would compete. It sounds a bit weird that they would just pick her for the sake of it, when there are other players to pick. :unsure:

I guess time would tell. I'd love to see Mary back on the court again :ok:

Apparently, Mary has specifically asked to be included in the hope she is fit for it. Momo has kicked off Mary has got a place before her, but Marys protected ranking beats Momo :unsure:

Eek! :yikes:

As much as i like Mary, surely they have to give that spot to Momo especially given that Pierce has been inactive for nearly two years :shrug:

I read about this in the papers today. Mauresmo was only chosen for the doubles so she's told them to sod it. I think I would have done the same! Even though she's sliding down the ranking she was silver medallist in 2004 and it's a big gamble to rely on Mary without much, if any, match fitness!

Olympics entry list

Women's Singles by Ranking:

1 Ivanovic, Ana SRB
2 Sharapova, Maria RUS
3 Jankovic, Jelena SRB
4 Kuznetsova, Svetlana RUS
5 Dementieva, Elena RUS
6 Williams, Serena USA
7 Williams, Venus USA
9 Safina, Dinara RUS
11 Hantuchova, Daniela SVK
12 Schnyder, Patty SUI
14 Radwanska, Agnieszka POL
15 Szavay, Agnes HUN
16 Azarenka, Victoria BLR
17 Cornet, Alize FRA
18 Schiavone, Francesca ITA
19 Vaidisova, Nicole CZE
20 Golovin, Tatiana FRA
22 Pennetta, Flavia ITA
25 Peer, Shahar ISR
26 Davenport, Lindsay USA
27 Razzano, Virginie FRA
PR 27 Pierce, Mary FRA
28 Bammer, Sybille AUT
29 Bondarenko, Alona UKR
31 Cibulkova, Dominika SVK
32 Wozniacki, Caroline DEN
33 Mirza, Sania IND
34 Kanepi, Kaia EST
35 Medina Garrigues, Anabel ESP
36 Govortsova, Olga BLR
PR 36 Stosur, Samantha AUS
37 Daniilidou, Eleni GRE
38 Sugiyama, Ai JPN
39 Knapp, Karin ITA
40 Pironkova, Tsvetana BUL
41 Dellacqua, Casey AUS
42 Dulko, Gisela ARG
43 Yan, Zi CHN
45 Li, Na CHN
47 Safarova, Lucie CZE
48 Benesova, Iveta CZE
49 Suarez Navarro, Carla ESP
PR 50 Sequera, Milagros VEN
50 Peng, Shuai CHN
51 Zakopalova, Klara CZE
53 Krajicek, Michaella NED
54 Amanmuradova, Akgul UZB
55 Paszek, Tamira AUT
57 Arvidsson, Sofia SWE
PR 60 Zheng, Jie CHN
61 Errani, Sara ITA
63 Perebiynis, Tatiana UKR
64 Erakovic, Marina NZL
65 Domachowska, Marta POL
66 Cirstea, Sorana ROU
67 Bacsinszky, Timea SUI

First alternates:
69 Bondarenko, Kateryna UKR
72 Gallovits, Edina ROU
73 Morigami, Akiko JPN

ITF Place: Koryttseva, Mariya UKR
ITF Place: Chan, Yung-Jan TPE
ITF Place: Llagostera Vives, Nuria ESP
ITF Place: Morita, Ayumi JPN
ITF Place: Molik, Alicia AUS
ITF Place: Sfar, Selima TUN

Tripartite: Vogt, Stephanie LIE
Tripartite: Black, Cara ZIM

Doubles entry list

Argentina
DULKO, Gisela, JOZAMI, Betina

Australia
STOSUR, Sam, STUBBS, Rennae
DELLACQUA, Casey, MOLIK, Alicia

Belarus
AZARENKA, Victoria, POUTCHEK, Tatiana
GOVORTSOVA, Olga, KUSTOVA, Darya

China
YAN, Zi, ZHENG, Jie
PENG, Shuai, SUN, Tian Tian

Chinese Taipei
CHAN, Yung-Jan, CHUANG, Chia-Jung

Czech Republic
BENESOVA, Iveta, VAIDISOVA, Nicole
KVITOVA, Petra, SAFAROVA, Lucie

Estonia
ANI, Maret, KANEPI, Kaia

France
CORNET, Alize, RAZZANO, Virginie
GOLOVIN, Tatiana, MAURESMO, Amelie

Greece
DANIILIDOU, Eleni, GERASIMOU, Anna

Hungary
ARN, Greta, SZAVAY, Agnes

India
MIRZA, Sania, RAO, Sunitha

Israel
OBZILER, Tzipora, PEER, Shahar

Italy
SANTANGELO, Mara, VINCI, Roberta
PENNETTA, Flavia, SCHIAVONE, Francesca

Japan
MORITA, Ayumi, SUGIYAMA, Ai

Poland
DOMACHOWSKA, Marta, RADWANSKA, Agnieszka
JANS, Klaudia, ROSOLSKA, Alicja

Russia
KUZNETSOVA, Svetlana, SAFINA, Dinara
VESNINA, Elena, ZVONAREVA, Vera

Slovak Republic
HANTUCHOVA, Daniela, HUSAROVA, Janette

Spain
MEDINA GARRIGUES, Anabel, RUANO PASCUAL, Virginie
LLAGOSTERA VIVES, Nuria, MARTINEZ SANCHEZ, Maria Jose

Switzerland
GAGLIARDI, Emmanuelle, SCHNYDER, Patty

Ukraine
BONDARENKO, Alona, BONDARENKO, Kateryna
KORYTTSEVA, Mariya, PEREBIYNIS, Tatiana

USA
DAVENPORT, Lindsay, HUBER, Liezel
WILLIAMS, Serena, WILLIAMS, Venus

Entry lists looking very good! Going to be exciting.

Is Davenport going to be fit in time? Gotta feel sorry for Lisa Raymond missing out on a doubles spot!

Davenport should definitely not be playing with her injury record - poor Raymond. Interesting to see there is no Serbian doubles team. Hmm.

Well Pierce has just pulled out of the olympics with the knee injury :( :(

I think it's a somewhat foregone conclusion that she will retire very soon :(

probably as this was one of her main goals for coming back. she cant possibly expect to win a slam now :blub: :blub: :blub: maybe moaning Momo will get a place in the team after all :doh:

Mary :( :(

From bbc sport today...

Two-time Grand Slam champion Mary Pierce has withdrawn from the Olympic tennis tournament because of injury.

Pierce, who has not played since she underwent surgery on her knee in 2006, was a surprise selection for France.

The 33-year-old was chosen in the singles ahead of former world number one Amelie Mauresmo, who will now replace Pierce in Beijing.

Mauremo had previously said she would not compete in the doubles as she wanted to prepare for the US Open.

The US Open begins on 25 August, nine days after the women's singles final.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands' Robin Haase and Michaella Krajicek have also withdrawn because of injury, and will be replaced by Austria's Jurgen Melzer and Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine respectively.

No harm to Lindsay but why on earth are the US not picking Raymond for the doubles? :yikes: :unsure:

I know! I think the original plan was for Lisa and Linds to play doubs as they have done in the past and plus their good friends. However, Liezel Huber is now an American citizen and as the #1 doubles player she took priority.

Personally I'd quite like to see Huber and Raymond give it a shot as they've both been two of the best doubles players over the last 10-15 years. Not sure how it would work though as both they're serves aren't as strong as they used to be but then again Lisa is very good at the net as is Huber's normal partner Cara Black.

I'm sure I read that Lisa is a reserve so I guess if Lindsey drops out she may get a place. Although after being left out in 2000 and consequently failing in her appeal to overturn that decision she's probably used to Olympic rejection!

It's all quite barking IMHO... :wacko:

I mean Raymond/Huber would definitely be a favourite for a medal I would have thought and with Lindsay's injury woes, I am surprised she wants to play both events... :unsure:

Lisa and Liezel would take a medal, no question.
Lindsey is not ready for this. She should give up the spot -- all playing will do is make her chances at the US Open worse.

I agree and wouldn't be surprised if she does withdraw soon.

Looks like the beeb were too quick in assuming that Amelie would replace Mary in the Olympics. It's now been announced that neither will be competing. Pauline Parmentier will take the spare space.

Just to confirm the ranking points are as follows...

Women's WTA ranking points

Gold Medal - 353
Silver Medal - 245
Bronze Medal - 175
Loser 3rd/4th - 135
Quarterfinals - 90
Round of 16 - 48
Round of 32 - 28
1st Round - 1

Bugger.. two of my favourites too.. :(

Regarding the ranking points, will they stay there for four years :unsure: or will they just drop off next year and obviously not able to defend them?

I know especially since she's just reached a Wimby final too, the match fintness is for sure wiith her than Lindsay, as much as i like her? :shrug:

Will do some searching...

Re: Mauresmo. I was surprised to read that she had agreed to take Mary's place in the first place. As decent a player as Mary is she hasn't played for ages so if I'd been overlooked as Amelie had I would have told the french team to stuff their Olympics!

Ok, regarding whether points are kept for one year or four years...

The points gained from the Olympics fall off 52 weeks later, just like any other event. This was highlighted in 2005 when gold medallist Massu dropped 27 places 52 weeks after the Olympics and silver medallist Mardy Fish dropped a whopping 75 places.

As far as I can see the same principle applies for Bejing.

The points drop off after a year.

Cheers for the info MissS...

But... Massu won the gold? :huh:
I was just getting back into tennis as I used to be then so that didn't register on my radar

I agree, but the French officials will have to go by the rankings though. I am a fan of Amelie and not happy that she isn't playing, but Mary still has the protected ranking higher than Amelie's current ranking, so if Mary says she wants to play then the officials will have to say yes, until a specific date by which Mary will have to show them that she is fit to play. I thik that date must have comeby now and hence the desicion is made.

I appreciate Amelie is a former No1 and a silver medalist in 2004, but can't see her winning any medals this year. I think she is better off resting and prepare for the US Open.

I completely agree and I'm sure Amelie would too, I'd still be narked though! ;)

Amelie never agreed to take Marys place, it was just an assumption. there was no way in hell she was going to take marys place, shes was definatly knarked about it, from what she said when she announced she wasnt going to play doubles.

Mary was using the Olympics as a marking point for her career and wanted her swansong to start there, which is why she never offered up her guaranteed place to Momo, even though she knew there was a large chance she wouldnt be playing :(

However seeing as Momo doesnt nowt but choke in RG, im sure the French people would have preferred Mary to represnt them anyway :shrug:

seems about right for the event - less than the Grand Slams and the Championships but more than a tier 1.
It carries it's own prestige and is selective but it's can't be as important as the other 5.

Heres an updated entry list:


1 Ivanovic, Ana SRB
2 Sharapova, Maria RUS
3 Jankovic, Jelena SRB
4 Kuznetsova, Svetlana RUS
5 Dementieva, Elena RUS
6 Williams, Serena USA
7 Williams, Venus USA
9 Safina, Dinara RUS
11 Hantuchova, Daniela SVK
12 Schnyder, Patty SUI
14 Radwanska, Agnieszka POL
15 Szavay, Agnes HUN
16 Azarenka, Victoria BLR
17 Cornet, Alize FRA
18 Schiavone, Francesca ITA
19 Vaidisova, Nicole CZE
20 Golovin, Tatiana FRA
22 Pennetta, Flavia ITA
25 Peer, Shahar ISR
26 Davenport, Lindsay USA
27 Razzano, Virginie FRA
28 Bammer, Sybille AUT
29 Bondarenko, Alona UKR
31 Cibulkova, Dominika SVK
32 Wozniacki, Caroline DEN
33 Mirza, Sania IND
34 Kanepi, Kaia EST
35 Medina Garrigues, Anabel ESP
PR 35 Santangelo, Mara ITA
36 Govortsova, Olga BLR
PR 36 Stosur, Samantha AUS
37 Daniilidou, Eleni GRE
38 Sugiyama, Ai JPN
40 Pironkova, Tsvetana BUL
41 Dellacqua, Casey AUS
42 Dulko, Gisela ARG
43 Yan, Zi CHN
45 Li, Na CHN
47 Safarova, Lucie CZE
48 Benesova, Iveta CZE
49 Suarez Navarro, Carla ESP
PR 50 Sequera, Milagros VEN
50 Peng, Shuai CHN
51 Zakopalova, Klara CZE
54 Amanmuradova, Akgul UZB
55 Paszek, Tamira AUT
56 Parmentier, Pauline FRA
57 Arvidsson, Sofia SWE
PR 60 Zheng, Jie CHN
61 Errani, Sara ITA
63 Perebiynis, Tatiana UKR
64 Erakovic, Marina NZL
65 Domachowska, Marta POL
66 Cirstea, Sorana ROU
67 Bacsinszky, Timea SUI
69 Bondarenko, Kateryna UKR

Withdrawals:
PR 27 Pierce, Mary FRA (injury) - replaced by Mauresmo (who also withdrew; see below)
30 Mauresmo, Amelie FRA (declined) - replaced by Parmentier
39 Knapp, Karin ITA (injury) - replaced by Santangelo
53 Krajicek, Michaella NED (injury) - replaced by K.Bondarenko
Tripartite: Vogt, Stephanie LIE (injury) - replaced by Tanasugarn

First alternates:
72 Gallovits, Edina ROU
73 Morigami, Akiko JPN

ITF Place: Koryttseva, Mariya UKR
ITF Place: Chan, Yung-Jan TPE
ITF Place: Llagostera Vives, Nuria ESP
ITF Place: Morita, Ayumi JPN
ITF Place: Molik, Alicia AUS
ITF Place: Sfar, Selima TUN

Tripartite: Tanasugarn, Tamarine THA
Tripartite: Black, Cara ZIM

PR: Protected/Special Rankings