Olympic entry list

[nitsansh]

Projected Olympic Entry list
Updated on Saturday 12/6
# Playing on Saturday 12/6
$ Playing on Sunday 13/6
Color codes: Through to Final Through to SF

Code: Select all

[size=2]
Direct acceptance: (48)
[color=black][u]Rnk   PRk   Player Nat      Pts   PPt   Add   18th   19th   Off   Trn(S)   Rnd/Res/Opp[/u][/color]   
[color=red]1   1   Roger Federer SUI    5540   5610   155   60    25    225   HAL 1   F$[/color]
[color=red]2   2   Andy Roddick USA     4625   4695   155   110    90    225   QUE 1   F$[/color]
[color=black]3   3   Guillermo Coria ARG    3740   3740   5   175    15       QUE 2   R2 L[/color]
[color=black]4   4   David Nalbandian ARG    2625   2625      0    0       [/color]
[color=black]5   6   Juan Carlos Ferrero ESP   2510   2510      40    5       [/color]
[color=black]6   5   Tim Henman GBR       2505   2545   5   100    60    100   QUE 4   R2 L[/color]
[color=black]7   7   Carlos Moya ESP      2460   2460      120    120       [/color]
[color=black]8   8   Rainer Schuettler GER    2265   2225   100   60    60       HAL 2   SF L[/color]
[s][color=black]9   9   Andre Agassi USA  (WD)   2055   2150   5   0    0    100   QUE 3   R2 L[/color][/s]
[s][color=black]10   11   Lleyton Hewitt AUS (WD)   1745   1700   100   0    0    55   QUE 6   SF L[/color][/s]
[color=black]11   10   Gaston Gaudio ARG    1705   1705      25    25       [/color]
[color=black]12   12   Nicolas Massu CHI    1673   1673      60    40       [/color]
[color=red]13   13   Sebastien Grosjean FRA    1665   1665   155   40    15    155   QUE 5   F$[/color]
[color=black]14   14   Paradorn Srichaphan THA   1535   1535   55   100    50       QUE 7   QF L[/color]
[color=black]15   15   Marat Safin RUS      1420   1420   5   5    5       HAL 5   R1 L[/color]
[color=black]16   19   Jiri Novak CZE       1355   1310   100   40    25    55   HAL 3   F$[/color]
[color=black]17   16   Sjeng Schalken NED    1340   1340   20   75    25       QUE 8   R3 L[/color]
[color=red]18   23   Mardy Fish USA       1335   1230   155   50    20       HAL 6   F$[/color]
[color=black]19   17   Mark Philippoussis AUS    1320   1320   5   5    5       QUE 9   R1 L[/color]
[color=black]20   18   Juan Ignacio Chela ARG    1320   1320      40    40       [/color]
[color=black]21   20   Andrei Pavel ROM     1264   1264   5   5    5       HAL 7   R1 L[/color]
[color=black]22   21   Feliciano Lopez ESP    1260   1260   5   60    25       HAL 8   R1 L[/color]
[color=black]23   22   Tommy Robredo ESP    1255   1255      40    40       [/color]
[color=black]24   24   Gustavo Kuerten BRA    1165   1165      75    75       [/color]
[color=black]25   25   Dominik Hrbaty SVK    1141   1141      23    20       [/color]
[color=black]26   26   Fernando Gonzalez CHI    1135   1135      75    50       [/color]
[color=black]27   27   Jonas Bjorkman SWE    1110   1110   20   20    8    20   HAL   R2 L[/color]
[color=black]28   28   Max Mirnyi BLR       1045   1045   5   25    25       QUE 10   R1 L[/color]
[color=black]29   29   Ivan Ljubicic CRO    1040   1040   5   20    20       HAL   R1 L[/color]
[color=black]30   30   Vince Spadea USA     1030   1030      40    40       [/color]
[color=black]31   32   Taylor Dent USA      945   985   5   15    15    55   QUE 11   R1 L[/color]
[color=black]33   31   Nicolas Kiefer GER    905   1005   55   15    8    155   HAL   QF L[/color]
[color=black]35   36   Hicham Arazi MAR     858   860      10    8    10   [/color]
[color=black]36   34   Mikhail Youzhny RUS    855   915   20   40    40    100   HAL   R2 L[/color]
[color=black]37   38   Luis Horna PER       831   831      21    15       [/color]
[color=black]38   37   Arnaud Clement FRA    823   860   55   90    63    100   HAL   QF L[/color]
[color=black]41   42   Jurgen Melzer AUT    782   782      5    5       [/color]
[color=black]42   39   Younes El Aynaoui MAR    775   825      15    5    55   [/color]
[color=black]43   44   Robin Soderling SWE    770   770   5   15    10       HAL   R1 L[/color]
[color=black]44   43   Xavier Malisse BEL    730   780      5    5    55   [/color]
[color=black]45   45   Filippo Volandri ITA    701   766   5   15    15    80   HAL   R1 L[/color]
[color=black]47   48   Joachim Johansson SWE    767   752   20   5    5       HAL   R2 L[/color]
[color=black]48   46   Irakli Labadze GEO    765   765      5    5       [/color]
[color=black]50   51   Sargis Sargsian ARM    750   745   20   15    15       HAL   R2 L[/color]
[color=black]52   52   Fabrice Santoro FRA    691   702      15    9    20   [/color]
[color=black]55   55   Martin Verkerk NED    670   670   5   40    15       HAL 4   R1 L[/color]
[color=black]56   60   Igor Andreev RUS     667   639   55   15    15    27   QUE   QF L[/color]
[color=black]57   57   Thomas Enqvist SWE    653   648   10   5    5       QUE   R2 L[/color]
[color=black]58   56   Nicolas Escude FRA    646   651      0    0    5   [/color]
[color=black]59   58   Nikolay Davydenko RUS    645   645   5   25    20       HAL   R1 L[/color]

Forty-eight (48) players will receive direct acceptance into the men’s
singles event at the 2004 Olympic Tennis Event based on the recognised
international singles computer rankings of 14 June 2004.
A National Association/National Olympic Committee who has more than four (4)
players eligible for direct acceptance into the men’s singles event should
select its four (4) highest ranked eligible players based on the computer ranking.
Any player nominated and accepted for the singles event will
automatically be eligible for selection for the doubles event.

ITF Places: (14)
[color=black]60   59   Jarkko Nieminen FIN    645   645      60    40       [/color]
[color=black]62   62   Ivo Karlovic CRO     626   621   20   8    5    15   QUE 14   R3 L[/color]
[color=black]63   63   Radek Stepanek CZE    590   590   55   5    5    55   QUE 15   QF L[/color]
[color=black]67   68   Mario Ancic CRO      566   566   20   15    9    20   QUE   R3 L[/color]
[color=black]68   79   Karol Beck SVK       563   517   55   9    7       QUE   QF L[/color]
[color=black]70   71   Florian Mayer GER    557   557   5   5    5       HAL   R1 L[/color]
[color=black]71   72   Olivier Rochus BEL    554   554   5   15    15       QUE   R1 L[/color]
[color=black]72   73   Raemon Sluiter NED    549   553   5   8    6    10   QUE   R1 L[/color]

[color=black]74   75   Flavio Saretta BRA    541   541      5    5       [/color]
[color=black]75   64   Karol Kucera SVK     534   579   10   5    5    55   QUE   R2 L[/color]
[color=red]77   77   Tomas Berdych CZE    532   527   35   5    1    30   WEI 1   F$[/color]
[color=black]78   76   Nicolas Lapentti ECU    531   531      8    5       [/color]
[color=black]79   78   Victor Hanescu ROM    523   522   10   9    8       QUE   R2 L[/color]
[color=black]81   99   Hyung-Taik Lee KOR    508   408   105   5    5       QUE Q   F$[/color]

Eight (8) of the fourteen (14) ITF places shall be selected solely on the recognised international singles computer ranking.
The remaining six (6) places shall be selected taking into consideration the following:
Singles Computer Ranking
Whether the country is represented in the Tennis Event
Number of players on site
Geographical location

Next in:
[color=black]82   84   Alexander Popp GER    497   482   20   5    5       HAL   R2 L[/color]
[color=black]85   82   Wayne Ferreira RSA    490   490      5    5       [/color]
[color=black]88   90   Den van Scheppingen NED   474   474      10    5       [/color]
[color=black]90   91   Wayne Arthurs AUS    465   465   5   5    1    5   QUE   R1 L[/color]
[color=black]97   95   Stefan Koubek AUT    432   447   5   5    5    20   QUE   R1 L[/color]
[color=black]99   98   Gilles Elseneer BEL    425   430   5   5    1    10   QUE   R1 L[/color]
[color=black]101    102   Yen-Hsun Lu TPE      413   398   20   5    4    5   QUE   R3 L[/color]
[color=black]102    104   Kenneth Carlsen DEN    400   388   20   8    8       HAM   R2 L[/color]
[color=black]106    107   Kristof Vliegen BEL    378   378      5    5       QUE Q   Q2[/color]
[color=black]107    108   Wesley Moodie RSA    378   373   10   5    5       QUE   R2 L[/color]
[color=black]108    111   M Vassallo-Arguello ITA   376   367   14   5    5       LUG 3   QF L[/color]
[color=black]109    103   Greg Rusedski GBR    374   389   5   1    0    20   QUE   R1 L[/color]
[color=black]112    110   Jan Vacek CZE       366   371   5   5    5    10   QUE   R1 L[/color]
[color=black]114    113   Davide Sanguinetti ITA    352   352   10   8    8    10   QUE   R2 L[/color]
[color=black]116    118   Adrian Garcia CHI    349   345   5   1    1       WEI 4   R2 L[/color]
[color=black]124    120   Marc Rosset SUI      323   342   1   1    1    20   LUG 4   R1 L[/color]
[color=black]128    131   Alexander Peya AUT    313   313      5    5       [/color]
[color=black]131    127   Harel Levy ISR       308   322      5    5    19   [/color]
[color=black]133    132   Potito Starace ITA    307   312   1   0    0    6   LUG   R1 L[/color]
[color=black]134    129   Todd Reid AUS       305   315   15   0    0    25   QUE Q   R2 L[/color]
[color=black]135    135   Ivo Heuberger SUI    304   304      5    5       HAL Q   Q2[/color]
[color=red]136    155   Janko Tipsarevic SCG   304   270   35   1    1       WEI   F$[/color]
[color=black]137    136   Alejandro Falla COL    303   303      1    1       QUE Q   Q3[/color]

Abreviations:
Rnk = Ranking today
PRk = Previous ranking (7/6)
Nat = Nationality
Pts = Points
PPt = Previous points (7/6)
Add = Points added this week
18th = Worst result among the non-mandatory events
19th = Best result not included in the ranking
Off = Points coming off this week
Nxt Off = Points coming off next week
Trn(S) = Tournament and seeding (QUE=Queen's, HAL=Halle, FOR=Forest Hills, LUG=Lugano, WEI=Weiden)
Rnd = Round (R1, R2, R3, R4, QF, SF, F)
Res = Result (L = lost, W = won, v = versus)
Opp = Last/Next opponent
[/size]

[nitsansh]

what's gone wrong with the format???

[nitsansh]

Olympic Entry list
Updated on 1/7
Direct acceptance: (48)
Rnk PRk Player Nat Pts PPt Add 18th 19th Off Trn(S) Rnd/Res/Opp
1 1 Roger Federer SUI 5610 5610 225 60 25 225 HAL 1 F W
2 2 Andy Roddick USA 4695 4695 225 110 90 225 QUE 1 F W
3 3 Guillermo Coria ARG 3740 3740 5 175 15 QUE 2 R2 L
4 4 David Nalbandian ARG 2625 2625 0 0
5 6 Juan Carlos Ferrero ESP 2510 2510 40 5
6 5 Tim Henman GBR 2505 2545 5 100 60 100 QUE 4 R2 L
7 7 Carlos Moya ESP 2460 2460 120 120
8 8 Rainer Schuettler GER 2265 2225 100 60 60 HAL 2 SF L
11 10 Gaston Gaudio ARG 1705 1705 25 25
12 12 Nicolas Massu CHI 1673 1673 60 40
13 13 Sebastien Grosjean FRA 1665 1665 155 40 15 155 QUE 5 F L
14 14 Paradorn Srichaphan THA 1535 1535 55 100 50 QUE 7 QF L
15 15 Marat Safin RUS 1420 1420 5 5 5 HAL 5 R1 L
16 19 Jiri Novak CZE 1355 1310 100 40 25 55 HAL 3 SF L
18 23 Mardy Fish USA 1335 1230 155 50 20 HAL 6 F L
19 17 Mark Philippoussis AUS 1320 1320 5 5 5 QUE 9 R1 L
20 18 Juan Ignacio Chela ARG 1320 1320 40 40
21 20 Andrei Pavel ROM 1264 1264 5 5 5 HAL 7 R1 L
22 21 Feliciano Lopez ESP 1260 1260 5 60 25 HAL 8 R1 L
23 22 Tommy Robredo ESP 1255 1255 40 40
24 24 Gustavo Kuerten BRA 1165 1165 75 75
25 25 Dominik Hrbaty SVK 1141 1141 23 20
26 26 Fernando Gonzalez CHI 1135 1135 75 50
27 27 Jonas Bjorkman SWE 1110 1110 20 20 8 20 HAL R2 L
28 28 Max Mirnyi BLR 1045 1045 5 25 25 QUE 10 R1 L
29 29 Ivan Ljubicic CRO 1040 1040 5 20 20 HAL R1 L
30 30 Vince Spadea USA 1030 1030 40 40
31 32 Taylor Dent USA 945 985 5 15 15 55 QUE 11 R1 L
33 31 Nicolas Kiefer GER 905 1005 55 15 8 155 HAL QF L
35 36 Hicham Arazi MAR 858 860 10 8 10
36 34 Mikhail Youzhny RUS 855 915 20 40 40 100 HAL R2 L
37 38 Luis Horna PER 831 831 21 15
38 37 Arnaud Clement FRA 823 860 55 90 63 100 HAL QF L
42 42 Jurgen Melzer AUT 782 782 5 5
43 39 Younes El Aynaoui MAR 775 825 15 5 55
44 44 Robin Soderling SWE 770 770 5 15 10 HAL R1 L
45 48 Joachim Johansson SWE 767 752 20 5 5 HAL R2 L
46 46 Irakli Labadze GEO 765 765 5 5
48 51 Sargis Sargsian ARM 750 745 20 15 15 HAL R2 L
50 43 Xavier Malisse BEL 730 780 5 5 55
51 45 Filippo Volandri ITA 701 766 5 15 15 80 HAL R1 L
52 52 Fabrice Santoro FRA 691 702 15 9 20
55 55 Martin Verkerk NED 670 670 5 40 15 HAL 4 R1 L
56 60 Igor Andreev RUS 667 639 55 15 15 27 QUE QF L
57 57 Thomas Enqvist SWE 653 648 10 5 5 QUE R2 L
59 58 Nikolay Davydenko RUS 645 645 5 25 20 HAL R1 L
60 59 Jarkko Nieminen FIN 645 645 60 40
100 112 Tommy Haas GER (PR) 415 360 55 0 0 HAL QF L

Forty-eight (48) players received direct acceptance into the men’s
singles event at the 2004 Olympic Tennis Event based on the recognised
international singles computer rankings of 14 June 2004.
A National Association/National Olympic Committee who has more than four (4)
players eligible for direct acceptance into the men’s singles event should
select its four (4) highest ranked eligible players based on the computer ranking.
Any player nominated and accepted for the singles event will
automatically be eligible for selection for the doubles event.

ITF Places: (14)
62 62 Ivo Karlovic CRO 626 621 20 8 5 15 QUE 14 R3 L
64 65 Gregory Carraz FRA 574 574 15 15
67 68 Mario Ancic CRO 566 566 20 15 9 20 QUE R3 L
68 79 Karol Beck SVK 563 517 55 9 7 QUE QF L
70 71 Florian Mayer GER 557 557 5 5 5 HAL R1 L
71 72 Olivier Rochus BEL 554 554 5 15 15 QUE R1 L
72 73 Raemon Sluiter NED 549 553 5 8 6 10 QUE R1 L
74 77 Tomas Berdych CZE 547 527 50 5 1 30 WEI 1 F W

75 75 Flavio Saretta BRA 541 541 5 5
76 64 Karol Kucera SVK 534 579 10 5 5 55 QUE R2 L
78 76 Nicolas Lapentti ECU 531 531 8 5
81 99 Hyung-Taik Lee KOR 508 408 105 5 5 QUE Q SF L
101 102 Yen-Hsun Lu TPE 413 398 20 5 4 5 QUE R3 L
252 Konstantinos Economidis GRE

Eight (8) of the fourteen (14) ITF places were selected solely on the recognised international singles computer ranking.
The remaining six (6) places were selected taking into consideration the following:
Singles Computer Ranking
Whether the country is represented in the Tennis Event
Number of players on site
Geographical location

Tripartite Commission Places (2):
BENIN - Arnaud Segodo
CYPRUS - Marcos Baghdatis

The two (2) Invitations in each singles event were selected by a Tripartite
Commission comprising the IOC,NOCs &ITF.These Invitations
comprise high-level players who are not direct acceptances,but who belong to
NOCs entering few competitors in other sports.The final decision regarding
the technical level of the player for the allocation of the Invitations rest
with the ITF.

Alternates:
79 78 Victor Hanescu ROM (D) 523 522 10 9 8 QUE R2 L
85 82 Wayne Ferreira RSA 490 490 5 5
88 90 Den van Scheppingen NED 474 474 10 5
90 91 Wayne Arthurs AUS (D) 465 465 5 5 1 5 QUE R1 L
97 95 Stefan Koubek AUT 432 447 5 5 5 20 QUE R1 L
99 98 Gilles Elseneer BEL 425 430 5 5 1 10 QUE R1 L
102 104 Kenneth Carlsen DEN 400 388 20 8 8 HAM R2 L
107 107 Kristof Vliegen BEL 378 378 5 5 QUE Q Q2
108 108 Wesley Moodie RSA 378 373 10 5 5 QUE R2 L
109 111 M Vassallo-Arguello ITA 376 367 14 5 5 LUG 3 QF L
110 103 Greg Rusedski GBR 374 389 5 1 0 20 QUE R1 L
111 109 John van Lottum NED 373 373 5 5 5 QUE R1 L
113 110 Jan Vacek CZE 366 371 5 5 5 10 QUE R1 L
114 113 Davide Sanguinetti ITA 352 352 10 8 8 10 QUE R2 L
116 118 Adrian Garcia CHI 349 345 5 1 1 WEI 4 R2 L
124 120 Marc Rosset SUI 323 342 1 1 1 20 LUG 4 R1 L
128 131 Alexander Peya AUT 313 313 5 5
131 127 Harel Levy ISR 308 322 5 5 19
133 132 Potito Starace ITA 307 312 1 0 0 6 LUG R1 L
134 129 Todd Reid AUS 305 315 15 0 0 25 QUE Q R2 L
135 135 Ivo Heuberger SUI 304 304 5 5 HAL Q Q2
136 155 Janko Tipsarevic SCG 304 270 35 1 1 WEI F L
137 136 Alejandro Falla COL 303 303 1 1 QUE Q Q3

Note: Only players nominated by their National Olympic commitee are eligible to enter as alternates.

(WD) Withdrew
(PR) Injury protected ranking
(D) Qualified in doubles

[FulhamFan]

I don't get your color coding. Through to what final?

[R. Jayakrishnan]

Nitsansh: You might want to explain the list. This is only a PROJECTED list, right? Your projections? ..

This coming monday's rankings (June 14th) will be used for entries. Actually ITF will send the list of eligible players to the countries who have entered by the earlier "entry by country" deadline. Then the countries will send their selections (not necessarily the top four players from each country, in other words). This will be done by June 28th I believe.

After that ITF will pick the team according to the guidelines...

So, for now I suppose this is your projections...

Jay

[nitsansh]

This is the list of players eligible to selection based on the ranking of June 14.
You might notice that some players are missing... these are players who are ranked outside the top 4 in their country.
The wording of the qualifying procedure (copied from ITF website) make it clear that the top 4 players should be selected.

A National Association/National Olympic Committee who has more than four (4)
players eligible for direct acceptance into the men’s singles event should
select its four (4) highest ranked eligible players based on the computer ranking.

The term "eligible" refer to a requirement that players should "make themselves available" for Davis Cup on 2 occasions in the past 4 years, one of which has to be in 2003 or 2004.
Presumably some players, or their national association/Olympic commitee will not take their alloted place, therefor we'll have to wait until the end of June for the official list...

[nitsansh]

2004 OLYMPIC TENNIS EVENT
FACT SHEET
As at 1 January 2004
DATES:
Opening Ceremony Friday 13 August
Closing Ceremony Sunday 29 August
Olympic Tennis Event Sunday 15 –Sunday 22 August
Venue Olympic Tennis Centre,Athens Olympic Sports Complex
Other Sports at the Olympic Park
Athletics,Basketball,Cycling,Gymnastics,Handball,Hockey,Modern Pentathlon, Swimming
No.of courts
10 match courts;6 practice courts -All floodlit
Seating Capacity:
Centre Court 8000
Show Court 1 4000
Show Court 2 2000
Remaining Courts 7 courts seating for 200 each
Events
Men’s /Women’s Singles
Men’s /Women’s Doubles
Surface Deco Turf II
Official Ball Wilson US Open
Referee Stefan Fransson
Draw Thursday 12 August –ATHOC Auditorium,time to be determined
ITF Welcome Dinner Saturday 14 August –Athens Lawn Tennis Club,time to be determined
Age Eligibility
MEN:Minimum 14 years by 31/12/2003
WOMEN:Minimum 15 years by 13/08/2004
Player Eligibility:
Davis Cup/Fed Cup Requirements –
All players must make themselves available for selection to represent his/her
country in any of the International Team Championships of the Federation for
two (2)of the following years –2001,2002,2003 or 2004 -provided that one of
those years is either 2003 or 2004.In 2001,2002,2003 or 2004 of the Davis Cup
or Fed Cup,a player who makes him/herself available for selection for one Tie
will be deemed to have fulfilled the requirement for that year.
Number of Competitors 172 Maximum
Nominations
MEN:A maximum of six (6)men may be nominated by any one country.
WOMEN:A maximum of six (6)women may be nominated by any one country.
A maximum of four (4)men may compete in the men’s singles and a maximum of four (4)
women may compete in the women's singles.
A maximum of four (4)men and four (4)women may compete as teams in the men's and
women's doubles.
Size +Composition of Draws
Where practical no players from the same country shall be placed in the same quarter
of the Draw.
Men's Singles 64 Draw (48 direct acceptance,14 ITF Places &2 invitations*)
Men's Doubles 32 Draw (top 10 ranked players eligible for direct acceptance*)
Women's Singles 64 Draw (48 direct acceptance,14 ITF Places &2 invitations*)
Women’s Doubles 32 Draw (top 10 ranked players eligible for direct acceptance*)
*Conditions apply –see Regulations.(ITF Places =Wild Cards)
Selection Date
International computer rankings of 14 June 2004 will be used to select players eligible
for Direct Acceptance in singles and doubles.
Entry Deadlines
1 April ’04 –National Associations to return completed Entry forms,endorsed by each
NOC,to the ITF
17 June ’04 –ITF to inform National Associations/NOCs of players eligible for direct
acceptance and sends out application form for ITF places
28 June ’04 –National Associations/NOCs to confirm the entry of players eligible for
direct acceptance and to return application form for ITF places
5 July ’04 –ITF to confirm to National Association/NOCs the allocation of ITF places
21 July ’04 –NOCs to submit entry forms to Athens 2004 Organising Committee

[R. Jayakrishnan]

nitsansh: Good catch on that wording. I wasn't aware that the top four SHOULD BE selected by a country. Had missed that line in the eligibility rules.

I wonder what happens if some of the top four refuse to play. Say Agassi says he doesn't want to play. What happens.

We will wait and see. As the situation is different from past Olympics because of 400 big points for the winner, the players would be much more interested in playing this time I would guess.

Jay

[nitsansh]

I think Agassi is exempt from "Olympic duty" because he didn't make himself available for DC in the last 2 years... did he?

[nitsansh]

BTW... the 2 tripartite invitations were allready handed to Baghdatis from Cyprus and a guy from Benin whose name I forgot...

and also:

The Special Ranking and Entry Protection for the recognised international computer rankings will be used for selection purposes.The ranking in effect at the time of selection will apply.

So I expect Tommy Haas and Thomas Johansson to enter as well...
If Johansson get in, Enqvist will get out because Sweden has a full team of 4 players.

[Steve G]

BTW... the 2 tripartite invitations were allready handed to Baghdatis from Cyprus and a guy from Benin whose name I forgot...

Probably Arnaud Segodo. Last time they went to Diego Camacho from Bolivia and Christophe Pognon again from Benin. They weren't really heard from much before or after that.
Baghdatis and Segodo are at least a bit more worthy.

[nitsansh]

I guess that's Segodo... he's the top ranked player from Benin at #462 (on June 7).

They say the important thing in the Olympics is to take part... here's the proof...

[nitsansh]

Out from original list:
Agassi
Hewitt
Schalken
Escude
Stepanek

Replaced by:
Dent (for Agassi)
Carraz (for Escude)
Rochus
Sluiter
Berdych

[Steve G]

I guess that's Segodo... he's the top ranked player from Benin at #462 (on June 7).

Hmm, aparently he's not Arnaud Segodo anymore!

He is showing up in this week's ranking as Johar Mubarak Saeed of Qatar. Took me awhile to figure that one out. For now I will leave it as Segodo in the rank lists but interesting transformation. Guess he converted to Islam and moved to Qatar. Wonder if the Olympic committee saw that one coming.

[Byron P. McCrae]

Can anyone explain how the heck Dent got on the US team without ever playing Davis Cup for us?!??? Did Ginepri NOT want to play?

[Steve G]

Now I hear Segodo/Saeed has turned down the wild card. Will be interesting to see who gets it next. Will the IOC select another from Africa?

By the way, since I'm still working on the rankings, I have decided to go ahead and make that change this week.

[Steve G]

Dent played Davis Cup in February of 2003.

[Elina]

I hope they give the wild card to Wayne Ferreira.

[Nathaliia]

Surely Ferreira deserves it more than Segodo.

[daryl]

Coria is out of Athens... posibly out of US Open too...

[Steve G]

That wild card intended for the "player formerly known as Segodo" is now going to Lamine Ouahab of Algeria.

[BelgiumDude]

anybody knows who will replace coria?

[Elina]

Zabaleta replaces Coria in Athens.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Injury ends Athens dream for Argentina's Coria

Wed 4 August, 2004 20:00

BUENOS AIRES, Aug 4 (Reuters) - World number three Guillermo Coria has pulled out of this month's Olympic Games because of a nagging shoulder injury.

French Open finalist Coria had been hoping to win a gold medal for Argentina but instead will have to spend more time nursing his sore shoulder.

"I had a big dream and didn't want to miss it for anything," Coria told reporters late on Tuesday. "I am disappointed because I thought it was okay."

Coria was forced to retire from his first-round match at the Toronto Masters last week because of the injury

He will be replaced in the men's draw by the 40th ranked Mariano Zabaleta, who reached the last 16 at the 2000 Sydney Games.

French Open winner Gaston Gaudio and world number five David Nalbandian will now spearhead the Argentine campaign in Athens.

The Olympics run from August 13 to 29.

[liwmh]

verkerk withdrew......... and someone said no male dutch players are going to athens. so is sluiter not allowed to go?

[Sébastien]

Here's the latest on the sorry state of Dutch Olympic tennis.

Schalken withdrew, because the Olympic tournament does not fit his schedule. He feels he would be jeopardizing both the Olympics as well as the US Open if he were to attend both, because he is highly sensitive to jet lag and differences in court properties (ball size & weight, court speed, local climate). He withdrew from the Olympics simply because the US Open is more important to him, as he is defending a quarterfinal place there. Given that he caught a flu in Indianapolis, and had to cancel Toronto as a result, he must be frustrated to have such a poor American hardcourt season, but relieved that he now has time to fully recover his form.

Verkerk withdrew because of an injury sustained at the Dutch Open in Amersfoort. He managed to win that tournament through sheer force of will, but had to withdraw from the TMS in Toronto and Cincinnati, as well as the Olympics. The injury is (I believe) a small tear in a ligament on the right side of his chest, and it apparently bothers him most in the service movement. Hopefully, he will be back for the US Open.

Sluiter is perhaps the sorriest case. He is highly motivated to play the Olympics, and is eligible according to the ITF rules. Unfortunately, he is not eligible according to the Dutch Olympic Committee. The Dutch standard for nomination on the Olympic Team for tennis players are ridiculously high:
* Either a Quarterfinal in a Grand Slam, or a Semifinal in a TMS tournament;
* Proof of maintaining form, typically by being steadily ranked among the top 50 in the ATP Entry List.

Because of these high requirements, Sluiter is not eligible. There have been small blurbs of news that ATP and ITF do not approve of Sluiter's exclusion, and even a rumor that the ATP would no longer acknowledge Olympic results in their rankings as a result, but given the current situation, Sluiter will not play.

Furthermore, because the above restriction also applies for doubles, no Dutch doubles team will play the Olympics either.

[R. Jayakrishnan]

Well, Germany is pulling something like that on the women's side as well. The WTA players were threatening a boycott because Germany would not allow Barna and Weingartner to compete.

This is terrible stuff.

The national associations should be reminded that there have been Olympics medalists who had no qualification standards but took medals (does anybody remember #144 Leander Paes going all the way to a Bronze, after being the among the last three entries in the field of 64 .. Leander had not even crossed first round in a grand slam and had never played a TMS event then in 1996!) ... Olympics is a different animal and some players have their adrenaline pumping playing for the country, unlike in the ATP tour.

I hope Sluiter gets to play. Actually Sluiter-Verkerk would have been a good doubles team too. Sad, indeed.

By the way, I don't buy that explanation from Schalken. There is a good week between Olympics and US Open to get rested. It is not like he is so much more of a special player than all those top-25 guys who will go to Olympics. If the federers and Roddicks can do it, why not Schalken? Actually I laugh when some of them think they can give a crappy reason like that and get away with it.

Jay

[nitsansh]

Jay
Those countries that prevent their players from going to Athens have similar high standarts in all other sports. It's a policy that only the best athletes go to the Olympics to get high achievements and not just participate.
We have those national criteria here in Israel as well, and 4 years ago Anna Smashnova was denied a place on the Olympic team despite making the ITF criteria.
The national Olympic commitees have the right to decide who goes to the Olympics, and there's nothing international sport organizations can do about it.

[R. Jayakrishnan]

I know. The problem is basically that other sports people in the country would complain when they see 64 people competing in a sport for a medal and the country's participant doesn't seem to be even in the upper 20 of the field..

The point that I am making is that, the national associations need to make the case that tennis IS different. The #30 player in the field really does have a chance at a medal, unlike say in athletics where if you are not in the top-10 or so, you really do not have a chance at all. That is the reason why tennis always has 32 and 64 draws, unlike say long jump or high jumpo or swimming or something where you basically know the chances much better ..

Grand slam QF is simply too high a standard for tennis, especially at Olympics, but I see the point you are making.

Jay

[nitsansh]

Correct me if I'm wrong... Sluiter never entered the top-30, and in the last year didn't get into the top-50 or so...

In tennis, any player can win on a particular day, but you need 5 such days to get a medal, so the odds for someone who never reached the top are very slim...

You can say the same about any head-to-head sport, and there are many like this in the Olympics...

[Guest]

Gaudio out of O.G, calleri replaced him

[Guest]

Correct me if I'm wrong... Sluiter never entered the top-30, and in the last year didn't get into the top-50 or so...

I will gladly correct you. Sluiter made top 50 in the Entry List during 2003, after he reached the final in Rotterdam (l. to Mirnyi). I believe he maintained a position around 45 until (at least) the start of the grass season.

Unfortunately, he has never done really well in Grand Slams or TMS. His only real shot at a Grand Slam quarterfinal would be Wimbledon, as his game is suited to fast courts.

[Utopist]

Well I might be a little bit utopist or out of date, but Pierre de Coubertin once said :
"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well." (sorry to be so serious
and for me that the spirit of the Olympic games and that why it is special and different than the reunion of several world chanpionships.

...
And I am sure that all the players who will have the opporunity to go to Athens will struggle to win every single match (even Ouahab or Sluiter...)

And just remember that Jordi Arrese was silver medallist in Barcelona, Paes and Dipasquale (who never was in the Top 30) were bronze medallist in respectively Atlanta and Sydney... So everyone has a chance to win !

[nitsansh]

You know... if De Cubertin was alive today, he would be horrified of what the Olympics has become... his views of sports have been completely reversed by his late-20th and early-21st century predecessors...

These days, elite sports is the playground of professionals, who are looking after success and use all means to get it...

[Steve G]

I just watched the movie "The First Olympics: Athens 1896" and I agree that De Cubertin must be spinning in his grave.

But it really depends on the sport. In tennis is there really amateur tennis anymore? Yes, college tennis but it is a really a small percentage of those who play. You would have to pick from college players and juniors. But even the #1 juniors player has lots of pro experience. Players start their pro careers at 16-18 years of age.

I think it started with team sports like Basketball and Ice Hockey...the communist nations back then didn't have professional sports. Their amateur teams were the equivalent of western pro teams. The mighty Soviet teams were grown men with lots of experience against a bunch of kids. That's wasn't exactly in the spirit of competition either.

I think it changed with our culture. Sports has become an career for most not just a hobby. To make a career out of it requires getting paid. And those who are paid have to be considered professionals. The line between professional atheletes and amateurs is blurring with time in many sports. I don't know if the Olympics has a choice but to keep up. Of course, that's open for debate.

[R. Jayakrishnan]

Brings us back to the point. I could not argue with nitsansh's point that it is well within the countries' right to have higher qualification levels and send people only to win medals. He is of course right about that, but I would still feel that it is against the spirit of Olympics for some countries to act like they are so much better than the others' that they would only send people who have a serious chance to win a medal.

Basically, I would say that all the countries should send whoever meets the Olympics qualifications, period! -- That is unless the country is so poor that they cannot afford to send the athletes (not the case with the Germanies and Netherlands out there)

Jay

[R. Jayakrishnan]

By the way, ITF had been promising for a week that they would release an updated entry list today. They just placed a note at the ITF Olympics web site that it will be out only TOMORROW (Aug 10th). I suppose they have not heard the final word from some countries like they expected to hear by Aug 7th.

Jay

[nitsansh]

You should realize that tennis is different from most other Olympic sports that even a player at the low end of the top-100 (or even lower) can make a living from prize money. In most Olympic sports only few athletes in each category can earn enough money from prize money, endoresments and sponsorship to finance their living, training etc, so they have either to do some paid work or rely on state benefits or scholarships.

In case the national Olympic commitee recieves public funds, it must treat all sports and athletes by the same standarts, and can't make an exception for one sport.
If, for example, you require athletes in track-and-field to get to world or European final to be sent to the Olympics, you should make similar criteria for tennis.

[Estevao Rohr]

It's ok to have a criteria, but the Dutch committee's one is too high.

If the draw size is 64, and a country has a player who is top 64 in the world, how can the committee create a criteria that disqualifies him?

[R. Jayakrishnan]

ATP had this release today to the players --

------

Points Will be Awarded in Athens; ATP Demands Changes Before Beijing Tennis Event

August 9 , 2004

The ATP will award Entry Ranking points at the Athens Olympics despite the Dutch National Olympic Committee’s decision to not send Raemon Sluiter, who qualified to participate. Although strongly disappointed, Sluiter magnanimously implored his fellow ATP Player Council members and the Player Board representatives to not withdraw points in the interests of fairness to other players entered in the event. The ATP could have withdrawn points for the Olympic Tennis Event as provided for in its agreement with the ITF.

ATP CEO Mark Miles said that unless there were timely revisions to the IOC statutes, it would be difficult to imagine that points would be granted for the 2008 Games in Beijing. In a letter* to the ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti, Miles said: “The reality today is that the rules of the Olympic movement provide for considerable authority for National Olympic Committees to make decisions about which athletes they choose to include and allow to represent their countries. Unfortunately, this is inconsistent and at odds with the fundamental principals of the ATP Entry Ranking system which exists for the purpose of ensuring that entry and participation in official competition is available to professional players based solely on merit as defined by their ATP Entry Ranking.

“Though our agreement allows for us to do otherwise, the ATP will award ATP Entry Ranking and INDESIT ATP 2004 Race points for the Olympic Tennis Event in Athens. This past week, when confronted with the issue, the consensus of ATP players and ATP player leadership was to withdraw points from the competition. However, Sluiter, a member of the ATP Player Council, urged his fellow Council members to keep the points in place as of this late date as a matter of fairness to the other players entered in the competition. The ATP thus will honor the agreement in deference to Sluiter’s request and due to our prior commitment to the ITF, the IOC, the more than 60 individual players who already have decided to play the event, and the numerous national Olympic committees who have abided by our agreement.”

Miles thanked ATP Player Council President Rainer Schuettler, the ATP Player Council, the three Player Board representatives, the ITF and the IOC for their efforts in attempting to resolve the issues.

Addressing the issue of points at the 2008 Beijing Games, Miles said: “The ATP will not consider awarding points to future Olympic competition unless there is a change in the relevant written policies, rules and procedures of the IOC that govern the organizing committee, all National Olympic Committees and all National Tennis Federations. This change would need to provide an absolute guarantee that all eligible ATP players based on the ATP Entry Ranking and subject only to the limitations on the number of players per country will be entered and allowed to compete in the Olympic Tennis Event. Additionally, this change would need to be finalized well in advance of the 2008 Olympics.”

---------------

Thank you Sluiter for what you did to help diffuse the situation. You have picked up a new fan - myself. Netherlands Tennis federation should be ashamed of themselves if they did not even try to argue in favor of Sluiter to the Ditch Olympics Committee.

And I really think that Olympics needs to change its rules and PREVENT countries from having higher standards than the world standards. That is arrogant, and this whole idea that you only go to Olympics with a serious chance at a medal is AGAINST the Olympics principles.

If that does not get done, I hope tennis withdraws from Oympics next time.

I cannot stand the kind of thing Netherlands is doing (whatever their internal reasons are, and however justified they are in following their rules). It is an insult to the Ecuadors, and Romania, and Taipeis and Armenias who have sent their tennis players ... Like, "Oh yeah, all you worthless countries can send your Sargsians and Lu's who stand no chance, but we are the big guys who aren't going to stoop that low" ...

Jay

[R. Jayakrishnan]

From the Olympics web site:

Changes to Men's Singles and Doubles entry list

ATHENS, 9 August - Australian tennis player Wayne ARTHURS will replace Martin VERKERK (NED) in the Men's Singles at the Athens Olympic Games. The Dutchman was forced to withdraw because of a chest muscle injury.

Changes were also made in the acceptance list of the Men's Doubles: Andre SA and Flavio SARETTA (BRA) have been offered the place of Massimo BERTOLINI and Filippo VOLANDRI (ITA), who were not entered by the Italian NOC for unknown reasons.

Argentinian Mariano ZABALETA will replace world number three Guillermo CORIA (ARG) to partner David NALBANDIAN (ARG) in the Men's Doubles. ZABALETA (ARG) has already replaced CORIA (ARG) in the Men's Singles after he was ruled out due to a right shoulder injury.

---------

Actually, Bertolini-Volandri were the replacesment team for Sluiter-Verkerk. Looks like Italy dropped the ball on that one ..

Sluiter was replaced by Hanescu of Romania...

Jay

[R. Jayakrishnan]

The Draw for tennis will be made on the 12th Thursday 11 am in Athens, in the presence of ITF president Francisco Ricci Bitti.

Does anybody know when the seeds will be announced. Or will we only know when the draw comes out?

Jay

[daryl]

The second doubles team for Argentina is Nalbandian-Calleri not Nalbandian-Zabaleta

[dryeagle]

Bottom line, each national federation has their own standards for picking the atheletes to represent their country in every sport. Why does tennis have to be different? This is the only thing I have agreed on with the Germans in the last few years.

I wish the USTA would raise their standards too minimum Grand Slam semifinalists or Master Series finalists. Only Roddick has a shot at a medal, maybe Fish if he is healthy (but doubtful). Probably the Bryan's in doubles have a shot, I'm not sure if they are entered though.

[R. Jayakrishnan]

ITF's roundup of recent changes -

Changes to the field are as follows:

Women’s Singles

Following the decision of the German Olympic Committee not to enter Anca Barna and Marlene Weingartner, their places in the women’s singles draw have been given to the next eligible players, Mariana Diaz Oliva (ARG) and Melinda Czink (HUN). Jennifer Capriati (USA) has withdrawn. Her replacement will be announced later today.

Women’s Doubles

Following the withdrawal of Milagros Sequera (VEN), the Venezuelan team in women’s doubles has been withdrawn and replaced by Melinda Czink and Aniko Kapros (HUN).

Men’s Singles

Following the decision of the Dutch Olympic Committee not to enter Raemon Sluiter (NED), his place in the men’s singles draw was been given to the next eligible player, Victor Hanescu (ROM). Following the withdrawal of Martin Verkerk (NED), his place was given to the next eligible player, Wayne Arthurs (AUS). Following the withdrawal of Guillermo Coria (ARG), his place was given to the next eligible player from Argentina, Mariano Zabaleta. Following the withdrawal of Gaston Gaudio (ARG), his place in the draw was given to the next eligible player from Argentina, Agustin Calleri.

Men’s Doubles

Following the decision of the Dutch NOC with regard to Raemon Sluiter and the withdrawal of Martin Verkerk (NED) and the decision by the Italian NOC not to enter Massimo Bertolini and Filippo Volandri in the men’s doubles, their place was given to the next eligible team, Andre Sa and Flavio Saretta (BRA). Agustin Calleri (ARG) will replace Guillermo Coria as the partner for David Nalbandian in the men’s doubles.

Under the regulations for the Olympic Tennis Event, all further withdrawals, including that of Jennifer Capriati will be replaced by players already on site.

The seedings will be announced on Wednesday, 12 August, 2004.

------

Looks like Capriati withdrawal happened too late and USA lost a spot in the draw.

Jay

[nitsansh]

I don't think USA will lose a spot... Lisa Raymond is likely to replace her, as she's the highest ranked player among the doubles players from countries with less than 4 players.
According to ITF statement, further withdrawals will be replaced by "players on site", IE players who are entered in doubles but not singles.
Presumably, substitutes will be entered in ranking order as of 14 June, provided that no more than 4 players from each country take part in singles or doubles.

[Andrew_Derer]

Wayne Arthurs

[nitsansh]

Bottom line, each national federation has their own standards for picking the atheletes to represent their country in every sport. Why does tennis have to be different? This is the only thing I have agreed on with the Germans in the last few years.

ATP's attempt to change a basic principle of the Olympic system has no chance in my opinion... NOCs will not allow to take their authority to select their Olympic delegation... in no other sport NOCs are obliged to select the highest ranked athletes...
In many countries, the USA's method of selecting its Olympic team by singles competition ("Olympic trials") is considered stupid... if you argue for Sluiter's right to play in the Olympics, you can make an even stronger case for Marion Jones being left out of the sprints.

[nitsansh]

List of alternates:
47 Nadal, Rafael*
65 Llodra, Michael*
151 Voltchkov, Vladimir
175 Niemeyer, Frederic
242 Sa, Andre
265 Bryan, Bob*
278 Etlis, Gaston*
294 Mazarakis, Vasilis
353 Black, Wayne
356 Ram, Andy
470 Fyrstenberg, Mariusz
505 Nestor, Daniel
*can replace only player from the same country

[zikmat]

I might be very pessimistic, but this Sluiter's story (didn't really know him before but from now I am likely to support him ...) looks very bad.
I think that there won't be any agreement in the future between ATP, ITF and each Olympic Federation concerned as far as Olympic Entry list is concerned.
Therefore, it will not be fair to give ATP points to some players while others who should participate cannot because of the criteria of their Olympic Federation.
So, no more points will, unfortunately, means that not all of the TOP players will play the next O.G. and then this will be again depreciated.
After a few years, Tennis will be erased (or would have to be erased as the competiton will no longer make sens) from the O.G.

Too bad while it looks like this was the first O.G. since the reintroduction of Tennis where the competition looked really attracting.

I hope i am mistaking on all this...

[R. Jayakrishnan]

Serena Williams out of Olympics. Replaced by Samantha Stosur.

From the Olympics website,

ATHENS, 11 August - Serena WILLIAMS (USA), gold medalist in women's Doubles at the Sydney Olympic Games, has withdrawn from the Athens Olympic Games. The reason has not yet been announced.

WILLIAMS was suffering from a left knee injury, which had forced her to withdraw from tournaments in San Diego and Montreal.

Her place in the Women's Singles will go to Australian Samantha STOSUR.

Why did she have to wait this late to withdraw? Come on .... US lost that spot, plus a big chance for a doubles medal too.

Jay