Olympia: Nadal, Federer, Kerber - yes, doesn't anyone think about the mixed?
The cancellation of Rafael Nadal , Roger Federer and Angelique Kerber is not only affecting the individual competition at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Jul 16, 2021, 09:34 pm
The topic of the Olympics was very important to Alexander Zverev early this year, and the start of the German number one in Tokyo was always planned. A start? No! It should be three: in singles, doubles and of course also in mixed. With Angelique Kerber, Zverev had declared it at the latest at the ATP tournament in Munich. Although at that time he didn't really know the qualification criteria - because he and Kerber would probably not have got a fixed position at the time. It's all smoke and mirrors - because on Thursday, as is well known, the most successful German tennis player since Stefanie Graf announced that she was not going to the Olympic party.
Kerber's withdrawal comes as a surprise insofar as the silver medalist from Rio de Janeiro has been on a sporting high again in recent weeks. And in Tokyo would have belonged to the group of contenders for precious metal. But it also leaves a certainly sad Alexander Zverev. Who now has to concentrate exclusively on the double strike with Jan-Lennard Struff. Unless Laura Siegemund has mercy on the Hamburg native (and the two would get a place in the tableau).
Federer wins the Hopman Cup with Bencic
But not only the German tennis delegation falls over a spectacular couple who were once tried out at the blissful Hopman Cup. The Swiss will also miss Roger Federer, above all Belinda Bencic, who and her great compatriot won the last edition of the very likeable mixed team competition in Perth. In the final against Kerber and Zverev, by the way, older tennis fans will remember.
Garbine Mugurza, on the other hand, was looking forward to the joint appearance with Rafael Nadal, nothing will come of it either. And that after the two were already listed in the grid in 2016, but could not play their first round game.
In Rio, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jack Sock finally won the mixed gold, two proven doubles players. However, Sock is currently trying to get himself going again, he will be missing in Tokyo. Mattek-Sands could ask Frances Tiafoe for gold to dance.
Favorites are hard to spot, especially since the mixed pairings won't be announced until Tokyo. It could look good for the French, however, who are sending out proven double experts with Kristina Mladenovic and Caroline Garcia or Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut.