LONDON: Rafael Nadal is on the final entry list for the Rio Olympics.
The 14-time major champion hasn’t played since pulling out of the French Open because of an injured left wrist and needed the International Tennis Federation’s Olympic Committee to approve his appeal because he hasn’t played Davis Cup.
Nadal won the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games.
There were no surprises on the list released Friday by the ITF. Unlike golf, nearly all the world’s top tennis players plan to go to Rio.
The only unexpected announcement Friday came from sixth-ranked Victoria Azarenka, who posted on Twitter just as the Olympic roster was about to be released that she is pregnant and will miss the rest of the season. The two-time Grand Slam champion’s name was on the ITF’s list.
A handful of top-30 men had pulled out of the next month’s Rio Games; they mostly cited tennis reasons and not the Zika virus. But the Big Four of Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Roger Federer are all on the list. Murray is the reigning gold medalist, while Djokovic and Federer are each seeking a first Olympic singles title.
Overall, 14 of the top 15 men are on the roster, with No. 9 Dominic Thiem the only one missing.
All of the top 20 women are on the list, led by reigning gold medalist Serena Williams. Sharapova will miss the Olympics because of her doping suspension.
There will be 64 players in the singles draws and 32 in doubles. Singles entries were based off the top 56 players in the June 6 rankings, with other ways to qualify for the final eight spots.
Each country is allowed a maximum of four singles players and two doubles teams for six players total on the men’s and women’s sides. Sixteen mixed doubles teams will be determined in Rio from players in the Olympics. (AP)
