ITF

16 ITFWorld // SPRING 2019 I N T E R V I E W Olympics 24 July – 9 August 2020 Olympic Tennis 25 July – 2 August 2020 Venue Ariake Tennis Park Courts 12 match courts; 8 practice courts Seating Capacity Centre Court: 10,000 Court No. 1: 5,000 Court No. 2: 3,000 Courts Nos 3-11: 250 per court Surface Hard (DecoTurf) Olympic Events Men's/Women's singles: 64 Draw Men's/Women's doubles: 32 Draw Mixed doubles: 16 Draw Format of Matches Men's/Women's singles: Best of 3 tiebreak sets Men's/Women's doubles: Best of 3 tiebreak sets (match tiebreak 3rd set) Mixed doubles: Best of 3 tiebreak sets (match tiebreak 3rd set) Session Times 11am start on days 1-6, 12pm start on days 7-9 Draw 23 July 2020 Player Eligibility All players must be in good standing with their National Association and the ITF. In addition, players must meet a minimum Davis Cup or Fed Cup participation requirement for the Olympic Tennis Event. Number of Competitors 172 (maximum quota) Maximum of 6 men per country, of which a maximum of 4 men may compete in the singles events, and a maximum of 2 doubles teams may compete in the doubles event. Maximum of 6 women per country, of which a maximum of 4 women may compete in the singles event, and a maximum of 2 doubles teams may compete in the doubles event. From those competitors already on site and accepted into singles or doubles, a maximum of 2 mixed doubles teams from any country may compete in the mixed doubles event. Entry Ranking Date The World Rankings of 8 June 2020 will be used to select players eligible for Direct Acceptance in singles and doubles. Referee Stefan Fransson (SWE) Test Event Japan National Championships, 26 October – 3 November 2019 Tokyo Olympics Key Facts Puig's Olympic women's singles title is not lost on Osaka. "Everyone in Japan is super excited," she added. "Everyone has been so pumped since Tokyo was announced as the host city. Ever since 2016 and the Games in Rio de Janeiro, the Olympics is all people have been talking about. "Even now, more than a year out, at every tournament I play I get asked about the Olympics and how I'm going to feel to compete at an Olympics in Japan. "I remember speaking with someone who was at the 1964 Olympic Games as a kid and they said the atmosphere was just electric. That just adds to the excitement and everyone is really looking forward to it this time around." Osaka cites Jamaican sprinter and eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt as the one Olympian above all others who has inspired her, claiming she "just loved watching him dominate". Inspiring and laying the foundations for future generations, particularly in Japan, is something which resonates with Osaka, who is only the second Asian woman after China's Li Na to be crowned a Grand Slam singles champion. "I do see myself as having that role and I take a lot of responsibility with that," said Osaka. Trailblazer, pioneer and groundbreaker are all words which are synonymous with Osaka, although her date with destiny at Tokyo 2020 will determine whether she can influence with the additional kudos of an Olympic gold medal and hint at dominating in a similar way to her own sporting inspiration. ■ ➝ Kei Nishikori won bronze for Japan in the men's singles at Rio 2016 The Summer Olympic Games will return to Tokyo for the first time since 1964

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