Skip navigation
Listen now:
NBC Sports: The Jason Page Show

Tennis

ATP scores | WTA scores |  Video |  ATP schedule  |  WTA schedule   | ATP rankings  |  WTA rankings  |  Tickets

Hoping for Roddick,
but expecting Djokovic

Look for Serbian star to win the gold medal at the Olympic Games in London

Image: Novak DjokovicMark Humphrey / AP
Novak Djokovic of Serbia practices for the 2012 Summer Olympics at the All England Lawn Tennis Club at Wimbledon on Tuesday.
OPINION
By Tom Perrotta
updated 5:09 p.m. ET July 24, 2012

Why was 2012 guaranteed to be a great year for tennis fans? Because Wimbledon happens twice. Olympic tennis begins Saturday at the All England Club, with medal events in men’s and women’s singles and doubles, and mixed doubles. Here’s what I’m hoping for … and what I expect.

Men’s singles
What I’d like to see: Andy Roddick wins the gold. Why? Because Roddick has been oh-so-close at Wimbledon so many times, and seems so far — despite his nice run in Atlanta this month — from winning a second Grand Slam title.

But best of three sets on grass that ought to be greener, and slicker, by the end of this tournament? That’s entirely possible. For the man who would likely own three or four Wimbledon titles if not for Roger Federer, this is his best chance to win at the most prestigious venue in the sport.

What I expect to see: While Federer is a smart pick, I’ll go with Novak Djokovic. The former No. 1’s astounding 2011 season was sparked by his performance in the Davis Cup final. Playing for Serbia, and for gold, will have the same effect. Surprise gold candidate: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. A guy with that much firepower and touch in a best-of-three-sets grass court tournament is trouble.

Women’s singles
What I’d like to see: Kim Clijsters wins the gold. OK, OK, I’m being sentimental. It’s the Olympics, so what better time for it? Like Roddick, Clijsters has never won at Wimbledon, though she has never gone past the semifinals and doesn’t have the best game for grass.

What I expect to see: Victoria Azarenka wins the gold. Azarenka played well at Wimbledon and should be positive about her game headed into this event. Serena Williams is the favorite, but I’m guessing she’s going to work as hard as possible to win the doubles title with her sister, and there’s always mixed doubles if she decides to enter.

Men’s doubles
What I’d like to see: This definitely won’t happen, because it would require Rafael Nadal to play, and perhaps an ITF/Olympic entry change, but…wouldn’t it have been great if Nadal had decided he wasn’t healthy enough to play singles, but felt fine to play doubles with Marc Lopez? Because of Nadal’s absence, Feliciano Lopez will play singles and Marc Lopez will compete in doubles. As a pair, though, Nadal and Marc Lopez might be the most fascinating, and entertaining, doubles team on Earth. I watched them up close at Indian Wells this year and it was astounding to see Lopez ducking and patrolling the net (the full length of it) while Nadal smashed forehands. No all-world competition is complete without that team. But I digress…

What I expect to see: In Beijing, two singles players won the doubles title. This time, a doubles team will take it. I’m picking Bob and Mike Bryan, who are due to break out of their mini slump and take home a well-deserved gold.

Women’s doubles
What I’d like to see: Another gold medal for Serena and Venus Williams, who isn’t close to her best these days and might never get close again.

What I expect to see: A rare instance in which I expect to see what I’d like to see. We’ll see …

Mixed doubles
A few months ago, I was convinced that whichever team included Serena Williams would win the gold, especially on grass with the best serve in the history of women’s tennis. I’m still convinced — except there’s a reasonable chance Williams won’t play a third event. If she does play, she should pick Bob Bryan as her partner, not Roddick (sorry, Andy).

I watched Williams and Bryan lose in the first round of the French Open mixed doubles event to Gisela Dulko and Eduardo Schwank, who should contend for the gold in London. It was a tough loss for the Americans, but the way they lost made it clear what Williams needs in a doubles partner: Someone who is really good at doubles, not another singles player. Williams is such a rare player that she doesn’t need more power in a partner.

She needs tactics and great hands at net. Bob Bryan would be the best choice. If they don’t play, watch out for Lisa Raymond and Mike Bryan, who just won Wimbledon together


advertisement
More news
Image: TENNIS-ITA-ATP-WTA
Gabriel Bouys / AFP - Getty Images
Nadal bests Federer; Serena wins

Rafa Nadal made short work of his great rival Roger Federer to win the Italian Open, while Serena Williams took down Victoria Azarenka in the women's final.

Slideshow
Image: TENNIS-AUS-OPEN
  Scenes from Down Under
Check out the best images from the 2013 Australian Open.

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Image: The Championships - Wimbledon 2012: Day Thirteen
  The best of Wimbledon
The best images from the Grand Slam tournament at the All-England Club.

NBC Sports

Video
  French Open 2012: Top 10 Shots
June 10, 2012: John McEnroe, Ted Robinson, and Mary Carillo look back at the Top Ten best moments from the 2012 French Open.
‘