To Play The Olympics, Serena Williams Must Go To The Ukraine

by Staff | February 14th, 2012, 10:14 am
  • 5 Comments

Serena Williams’s path to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London just got a lot tougher. To become eligible to play the summer games, Williams has to be available for two Fed Cup matches in a four-year period.

She’s played one match, helping the USA defeat a Victoria Azarenka-less Belarus team earlier this month. For act two, in late April she’ll travel to the Ukraine, site of USA’s next opponent as drawn earlier today by lot in the world group playoffs.

Since this is pro tennis, rules are often suggestions especially when applied to star players like Serena. But because of her illness last year, the ITF already gave Serena one pass allowing her to play two Fed Cup ties in one year to qualify when the rule states a player must be available at least two ties in two different years.


Does Serena go? Or does she get mysteriously injured on the eve of the tie? The speculation exists because Serena has not been one to make long trips to play tennis unless it’s a Grand Slam. But this is to be at the biggest sports party of the year, one everyone wants to be at.

Serena’s elder sister and 3-time gold medalist, Venus, is already eligible for the team however her ranking (No. 137 this week) may not earn her a spot among the Top 4 American women.


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5 Comments for To Play The Olympics, Serena Williams Must Go To The Ukraine

jane Says:

Not sure where to put this: Maria Sharapova at the Marc Jacobs’ show last night, looking sweet

http://www.wwd.com/images/processed/wwd/2012/02/14/marc-jacobs-fr/portrait/00-main/marc-jacobs-fr02.JPG


Andre Says:

She’s going to go.. She wants the Olympics.


Steffianna Says:

For the USA not to put Venus (unless injured) on the Olympic team is downright wrong. Sure we have a few rising stars and Venus is getting older but I think it would bode poorly for USA tennis. As far as Serena is concerned it honestly depends whether she actually cares about an Olympic medal or not. I say let’s wait and see what her decision and state of health are and if her endorsements require her to participate or at least be eligible for playing the Olympics.


dogTheLpolov Says:

The sisters should NOT be allowed to attend the olympics at all, they only care about themselves, never cared about Fed cup or anyone else for that matter, there are players who are dying to play for the country in the olympics and they have worked hard enough to deserve it. These players are the ones who should be in the olympics.


Dory Says:

Go Serena. Win your first Olympic singles gold. You are the only respectable woman tennis player from today’s trash and deserve it.

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