LONDON: The last time Olympic tennis was played on the All England Club’s grass courts in south west London, Britain walked away with all of the gold medals and a handful of silver and bronze to boot.
Expectations are not that high 104 years later as the Olympics return to Wimbledon, but a medal for British number one Andy Murray could help ease the pain of the country’s long-suffering tennis fans, whose hopes of an end to the 76-year wait for a home-grown champion were dashed when Murray lost to the inimitable Roger Federer in this month’s final.
“Andy’s chances have increased,” Team GB’s tennis leader Paul Hutchins told Reuters, adding that the shorter matches – best of three sets until the men’s final which will be the usual best of five – could prompt unexpected outcomes.
“There can be more opportunities for surprise results when it is best of three.”
The returning Wimbledon champions, however, will be burning with motivation to notch a second summer triumph in London.
Swiss master Federer and American Serena Williams return to the grass courts aiming to claim an Olympic singles gold that would add a missing line to their prodigious resumes.
“In the men’s singles there are probably only four or five that could possibly win it. There is such a high standard,” said Hutchins, whose son Ross will compete for Britain in men’s doubles. (Reuters)