Elena Baltacha aims for direct acceptance at the Olympic Games 2012 – Tennis News
British number one Elena Baltacha is eyeing for a direct entry at the London Olympic Games 2012, one of the biggest sports event held every four years. She also stated that Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray are also focusing on the
Olympic Glory.
Since top fifty-six players qualifies directly for the main draw, the 28-year old Baltacha is improving her tennis to go far in the WTA tournaments especially making into the final eight at the Grand Slams next year. She is currently
standing at number 51 in the Sony Ericsson WTA Premier Rankings.
“At the moment I’m right in there and I want to get a direct acceptance into the tournament,” said the beaming British woman.
The British veteran has had a good 2011 season. She grabbed a title at Nottingham ITF Women’s Circuit event in June (dumping sixth seeded Czech Petra Cetkovska in the title round) and made a final showdown at the Poitiers ITF event
in October (lost to Japanese Kimiko Date Krumm in the final round). In addition to this, Baltacha made final four appearances at Cagnes-Sur-Mer ITF event (upsetting the top seeded German Kristina Barrois on route to semis). However, the highest she reached
at any WTA tournament was in the quarter-finals of the Dallas WTA International event. In remaining WTA events, she was ousted in either opening or the second rounds. Furthermore, the British woman exited from the second round from all of the Grand Slam events.
The high spirited British woman said, ‘A lot of players would have said in the past “if I can play the Olympic Games, I will”. The four slams obviously come first but I can honestly say everyone is turning up in London… The appeal
of the city has something to do with it and the top players I have spoken to are taking it seriously now. Wimbledon is most players’ favourite slam so London is a dream from that point of view. The line-up will be massive.’
Regardless of the defending women’s champion, Elena Dementieva retired from professional tennis but other top contestants are gearing up for the Olympic Games. Olympic doubles champions and American veterans, Williams sisters (Serena
and Venus) are expected to return along with world number one Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark.
On the Men’s side, Spanish number one and the defending champion, Nadal is focusing for London Olympics and already hinted that he would not participate in the Davis Cup. British number one Murray is also expected to play in front
of his home Olympics crowd.
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