Beijing 2008: top players head Olympic tennis tournament

With the participation of 17 of the top 20 men and 18 of the top 20 women, the 2008 Olympic tennis tournament will certainly be an event not to be missed from 10 to 17 August on the courts of the new Olympic Tennis Centre in Beijing. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has released the direct acceptance list for the Olympic tennis event in singles and doubles (document to be downloaded from the ITF website).

With the two world No.1s

In Beijing, the world No. 1s, Roger Federer (Switzerland) and Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) will lead the strongest field ever to enter the Olympic tennis event since tennis returned as a full medal sport in Seoul in 1988. All five of the top men will compete in Beijing, and seven of the top ten women. The number of competitors will be 172 maximum.

Who will succeed Massu and Henin?

In Beijing, Nicolas Massu from Chile will be able to defend his 2004 Olympic titles (singles and doubles) as he has received one of the six ITF places. In the women's singles, to find out who will succeed the Belgian Justine Henin as Olympic champion, we will have to wait until 16 August 2008. For the men's and women's doubles, the Olympic winners will be crowned on 16 and 17 August.

(Credit: IOC. Click here for further information.)