Serena Williams John Isner mixed-doubles | Three-time Olympic gold medalist Venus Williams, just a day after losing in the first round of Wimbledon, was named as both a singles and doubles player for the 2012 Olympics, which will also be played at Wimbledon.

Venus will be joined on the women’s singles team, chosen by the United States Tennis Assn., by her sister Serena Williams, Christina McHale and Varvara Lepchenko. The world’s No. 1 doubles team, Lisa Raymond and Liezel Huber, will represent the U.S. The Williams sisters will be the other U.S. doubles teams.


Playing singles for the men will be 2004 Olympian Andy Roddick, John Isner, who also lost in Wimbledon’s first round Monday, Ryan Harrison and Donald Young. The 2008 bronze medal doubles team Bob and Mike Bryan will play doubles as will Isner and Roddick.

The U.S. will also have two mixed doubles teams that won’t be chosen until all 12 players are on site. This is the first time the Olympics will have mixed doubles since tennis returned to the Olympics in 1988. The Olympic tennis competition is scheduled for July 28-Aug. 5.

Serena Williams is an undefeated and two-time doubles gold medalist (in 2000 and 2008) but she has never won a singles medal. McHale, 20, and Lepchenko, 26, will make their Olympic debuts.

Raymond, 38, hasn’t played the Olympics since 2004 and is the oldest woman to hold a No. 1 ranking in either singles or doubles. Isner is also making his Olympic debut.

Among the men, Harrison, 20, and the 22-year-old Young are also participating in the Olympics for the first time.

0 comments:

Post a Comment