Sunday, August 5, 2007

WTA Tour prepares for Olympics

The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour recently announced an agreement with the ITF and the IOC that will grant ranking points to women who participate successfully in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. WTA Tour rankings will be used to determine the top 56 acceptances in the 64-player draw. Ranking points were also given in the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

Under a new agreement, countries will be able to send up to six players to the Olympics, as opposed to the usual four. Four singles players can be entered, and--if there is a doubles player ranked in the top ten--a separate doubles team can also be entered.

Justine Henin won the Olympic Gold Medal in 2004. Amelie Mauresmo won the silver, and Alicia Molik won the bronze when she recovered from being down 1-5 in the third set of her match against Anastasia Myskina.

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