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Tennis News and Notes

By Joseph Jacquez

Aug 1, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; A view of the Olympic Tennis Center at Olympic Park prior to the Rio 2016 Olympic games. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 1, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; A view of the Olympic Tennis Center at Olympic Park prior to the Rio 2016 Olympic games. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /
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With the announcement of the men’s and women’s singles and doubles draws having been made, here is what you need to know from the world of tennis.

Competition from Olympic Tennis Center in Rio is just days away and I personally can’t wait any longer. Despite what certain players and fans say, the Summer Games is better when Tennis is in the fold, and is often one of the most watched events every year.

In terms of order of importance, the four grand slam tournaments and the Davis Cup might be weighted more for some players, but the idea that tennis shouldn’t be an Olympic sport is absurd. They’re not many things better than playing for country, and winning a gold medal is a great thing to add to a career resume.

If it weren’t for injuries, and concerns over the zika virus, all of the top 10 in the Emirates Airlines Rankings would be playing the event. Just because Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka, and others aren’t playing this time, doesn’t mean they don’t value the event. After all, Federer took home silver in 2012, and Wawrinka teamed up with his countrymen in 2008 and they won gold.

With the games set to be played in Tokyo in 2020, expect more of the world’s best players to be participating. Even at the age of 38, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Federer play in his third Olympic games. He ended his 2016 season in order to rehab and extend his career.

With Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and Rafael Nadal committed to play, the sport’s reputation will be fine, and tennis is certainly in a better position than golf, especially after Rory Mcilroy comments before the Open Championship.

Novak Djokovic is looking to add his first gold medal to his trophy case. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Novak Djokovic is looking to add his first gold medal to his trophy case. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

Men’s Singles:

  1. Novak Djokovic (SRB)
  2. Andy Murray (GBR)
  3. Rafael Nadal (ESP)
  4. Kei Nishikori (JPN)
  5. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)
  6. Gael Monfils (FRA)
  7. David Ferrer (ESP)
  8. David Goffin (BEL)
  9. Marin Cilic (CRO)
  10. Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP)
  11. Pablo Cuevas (URU)
  12. Steve Johnson (USA)
  13. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)
  14. Jack Sock (USA)
  15. Gilles Simon (FRA)
  16. Benoit Paire (FRA)
Venus Williams will be playing in a record fifth Olympics as the second oldest singles player since the sport was reintroduced into the Summer Games rota. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
Venus Williams will be playing in a record fifth Olympics as the second oldest singles player since the sport was reintroduced into the Summer Games rota. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports /

Women’s Singles:

  1. Serena Williams (USA)
  2. Angelique Kerber (GER)
  3. Garbine Muguruza (ESP)
  4. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)
  5. Venus Williams (USA)
  6. Roberta Vinci (ITA)
  7. Madison Keys  (USA)
  8. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)
  9. Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP)
  10. Johanna Konta (GBR)
  11. Petra Kvitova (CZE)
  12. Timea Bacsinszky (SUI)
  13. Samantha Stosur (AUS)
  14. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)
  15. Elina Svitolina (UKR)
  16. Barbora Strycova (CZE)
Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut are the top seed for men’s doubles. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut are the top seed for men’s doubles. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Men’s Doubles:

  1. Pierre-Hugues Herbert/Nicolas Mahut (FRA)
  2. Andy Murray/Jamie Murray (GBR)
  3. Marcelo Melo/Bruno Soares (BRA)
  4. Gael Monfils/Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)
  5. Florin Mergea/Horia Tecau (ROU)
  6. Marc Lopez/Rafael Nadal (ESP)
  7. Daniel Nestor/Vasek Pospisil (CAN)
  8. Roberto Bautista Agut/David Ferrer (ESP)
Serena Williams will be going for her fifth and sixth gold medals combined singles and doubles this year. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
Serena Williams will be going for her fifth and sixth gold medals combined singles and doubles this year. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports /

Women’s Doubles:

  1. Serena Williams/Venus Williams (USA)
  2. Caroline Garcia/Kristina Mladenovic (FRA)
  3. Chan Hao-Ching/Chan Yung-Jan (TPE)
  4. Garbine Muguruza/Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP)
  5. Timea Bacsinszky/Martina Hingis (SUI)
  6. Andrea Hlavackova/Lucie Hradecka (CZE)
  7. Ekaterina Makarova/Elena Vesnina (RUS)
  8. Sara Errani/Roberta Vinci (ITA)

The tennis world is focused on the Olympics and the BB&T Atlanta Open right now, but the new retractable roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York was unveiled today in a ceremony.

Next: Leander Paes in Seventh Olympics

Billie Jean King had the honor of opening the roof at the facility named after her, but it didn’t happen without a glitch that had King and USTA officials panicking. In the end, the roof opened quicker than it took to close. The roof is part of $500 million plus renovations to the complex payed for by the USTA.

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