By Neil-Monticelli Harley-Rudd
Svetlana Kuznetsova, twice a Grand Slam champion, could miss out on an Olympic Tennis berth.Those world ranked at singles within the top 56, on both the ATP and WTA Tours, on 11 June 2012 are set to automatically qualify for a place in the Olympic Tennis main draw.
However, under the current IOC rules no nation is permitted more than four players at singles.
This is would prove to be problematic for the tennis-mad nation of Russia as they currently have seven women in the world’s top 56.
The Eastbourne favourites of Kuznetsova, Ekaterina Makarova and Nadia Petrova could each miss out on a shot at an Olympic medal for Russia unless they dramatically improve their world ranking.
Even taking into account the ITF’s wildcards, the four player rule would prevent Kuznetsova from competing.
Maria Sharapova, the Russian no1, admitted: “Growing up in Russia it was all about being an Olympian, especially the Winter Games, and tennis was not a big sport back then. Now tennis has become extremely popular in Russia.”
The Czech Republic are another nation who will be a victim of their own success on the WTA Tour, with five leading players vying for the four allocated berths at Olympics Singles.
Meanwhile, hosts Great Britain will be relying on wildcard entries for the Ladies Singles Competition as not even teenage sensation Laura Robson would automatically qualify for the Olympics.
