ITF

OLYMPIC TENNIS Who will win a medal in Rio? ITFWorld asked some prominent tennis journalists for their views. "I strongly feel that Novak Djokovic will take Olympic gold. He is the best player in the world on hard courts, and I believe that his drive will bring him his dream in Rio. Silver and bronze will be a bit up for grabs, but my guess is that Roger Federer and Andy Murray will burn to get to the podium. Maybe the Bryan brothers will get on the podium. I'm figuring that France will put together a good team, and maybe even Federer and Stan Wawrinka for Switzerland. Serena [Willliams] is my go-to guess for pretty much every event she enters, but this year has already proven to be tricky for her. I'll put Victoria Azarenka ahead of her, with Garbine Muguruza taking the bronze. In doubles — again, it's tricky. I don't think Venus and Serena have played enough, though they've dominated Olympic doubles. I'm going to guess a Czech team wins gold." Mary Carillo, US tennis commentator "I was privileged to be on Centre Court when Andy Murray won gold in London 2012. The cheer that greeted his first serve was the loudest I can remember on Centre Court. Djokovic is yet to win gold at the Olympics, and I don't think you can bet against him winning in Rio. Serena Williams has to start favourite every time she plays no matter what the event. I have a feeling though that someone else is going to become inspired by playing for their flag and I have no idea who that might be. I love watching Aga Radwanska play so I hope she goes far." "In men's singles of course I would put Djokovic first, not only because he's No. 1 but because the Olympics is outdoor hard court conditions very similar to Indian Wells and Miami. I think [Rafael] Nadal is very focused on the Olympics this year especially after missing London. In third place, as a bronze medallist, I would pick Roger Federer. Of the women, Victoria Azarenka, if she's in a good physical condition, will be the favourite for the gold medal. She knows the meaning of it because she won the bronze medal in London 2012. Serena Williams would be for me the second favourite, and in third place Garbine Muguruza, because she's really excited about the Games and she's only 22 years old so I'm sure she will be fit for the event. The Bryans, I pick them for a gold medal. Second place (goes to) the Frenchmen Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut, and in third place Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini. Women's doubles is going to be interesting but of course if the Williams sisters are playing they are always the favourites. Carla Suarez and Garbine Muguruza can take their chances because Martina Hingis can't play in Rio with Sania Mirza. For the bronze medal, I would pick Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka from Czech Republic." Joan Solsona, tennis journalist for Marca (Spain) Andrew Castle, British tennis commentator "Switzerland has high hopes in the tennis competition, and I believe our top five players have several great chances. Belinda Bencic and Timea Bacsinszky should have at least an outside chance to win medals in singles, although they both would have to rise above themselves. I also see Stan Wawrinka and Roger Federer both as possible finalists, but to stop Djokovic from winning gold, they also would need a great day. The best chances to win a gold medal for Switzerland could be in the mixed competition, since Roger and Martina Hingis already decided to play together. It would be a fairytale ending and the crowning of the two most successful players and athletes Switzerland ever had in sports. Martina could even go home with two medals, since she and her partner (probably Bencic) will like also their chances in the women's doubles." Rene Stauffer, sports writer for Tages-Anzeiger (Switzerland) "It's hard to bet against the current world No. 1s, Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams. But the best-of-three format and the hard-court surface gives Roger Federer a puncher's chance in what surely will be his final Olympics. On the women's side, the most on-form player at the moment has to be Victoria Azarenka and there, too, the surface works in her favour. Will she still be on the ascendancy, and healthy, come August? So many of the best teams in the world come from different countries, so the doubles is always a matter of form on the week even if some tandems have teamed up this year in preparation. Serena and Venus Williams are my favourites if they play. Up-and-coming are France's Kristina Mladenovic and Caroline Garcia, a young team that has posted great results on tour and in Fed Cup. On the men's side (if they play), Federer and Stan Wawrinka would be the favourites along with in-form team Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert of France. Locals Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares — hugely successful with different partners — will have the home-country support and could have an inspired week." Stephanie Myles, Canadian tennis journalist Reflections on what it feels like to own an Olympic medal, and how that experience shapes your life, are contained in the ITF's new Olympic tennis book, set to be published this summer. This coffee-table publication features 118 Olympic and Paralympic tennis medallists talking about what their medal means to them, their stories told through exclusive interviews and specially-commissioned photography. CELEBRATING TENNIS AT THE OLYMPICS THROUGH THE MEMORIES OF PAST OLYMPIANS Novak Djokovic won bronze in Beijing 8 ITFWORLD SPRING 2016

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