Olympics (Tennis) -- *ALL* results and discussion!!

[jayakris]

OK, here is my take on how the Olympics seedings will go, based on current rankings:

Code: Select all

Doubles ranks only (or at least one top-10 player):

USA  Bryan/ Bryan        -  3  +  3  =  6 -- #1 seed

FRA  Santoro/ Llodra     -  7  + 12  = 19 -- #2 seed

AUS  Arthurs/ Woodbridge - 14  +  2  = 16 -- #3 seed
     (AUS will throw their weight around to ensure this seed)

ZIM  Black/ Ullyet       - 13  + 10  = 23 -- #5/6 seed
     (deserves #4 seed but won't get it)

CZE  Damm/ Suk           - 15  + 15  = 30
     (deserves seeding but may not get any seeding!)

IND  Bhupathi/ Paes      -  5  + 30  = 35 -- #5/6 seed
     (Respect is not all gone.)

ARG  Etlis/ Rodriguez    - 19  + 18  = 37
     (deserves seeding but country-mates may bump them)

ISR  Ram/ Erlich         - 22  + 25  = 47
     (deserves seeding but won't get it)



Singles ranks only (involving top-10 players):

ARG  Corea/ Nalbandian   -  3s +  6s =  9 -- #4 seed
     (They don't deserve it, but don't be surprised!)

USA  Roddick/ Fish       -  2s + 20s = 26
     (Would be seeded undeservedly, but for the Bryans!)

GER  Kiefer/ Schuettler  - 33s +  8s = 41
     (Very doubtful.  GER has no clout now it seems?)

Moya/ Nadal         -  4s + 60s = 64
     (Chance for a seeding.  ESP has clout in ITF)



Singles/Doubles combo:

SWE  Bjorkman/ Johansson -  1  + 32s = 33 -- #7 seed
     (May get bumped by even Moya-Nadal, undeservedly)

SUI  Federer/ Allegro    -  1s + 40  = 41 -- #8 seed
     (A deserving team, actually.  Federer's name has weight)

What do you think?

Jay

[PKBasu]

Thanks, Jay, for great analysis, as usual. The scary thing is that there is a small possibility that the Indian Express may not be seeded at all -- which could be a catastrophe. Is it going to be a 32-team or 48-team event? (If 48, then of course the first eight seeds would get a bye in R1).
Also, the two weeks of Olympics would provide a good opportunity for non-participants to pick up a lot of points. Hopefully Prakash, Harsh, Rohan or Sunil will have enough points to get into a pro tour event that week (Schenectady?) and pick up some serious points with an upset or two...

[jayakris]

It is a 32 team event. Actually, the tennis event is over only eight days (Sun 15th through Sun 22nd). So the Olympics players are allowed to play ATP events the week of Aug 9th and Olympics really concides only with one week of ATP events.

Sopot ATP is in the Aug 9th week. Safin, Andreev, Davydenko, Nadal, Hanescu, and Volandri are Olympipcs players who are playing Sopot. I suppose if any of them are in the final, they would be allowed to play the Athens R1 on monday the 16th.

During the tennis week at Olympics, the other ATP event is the Washington DC event, and also the bronx challenger. I expect the DC ATP to have a pretty easy qualifying draw... I think Harsh is planning to go there. May be Prakash too, as it is doubtful if he would make the Bronx challenger cut.

Jay

[PKBasu]

Well, in a 32-team event (just two rounds before QF) seedings may not be that vital -- as long as our guys are in peak form and have done well especially in the week/tournament just before the Olympics.

[amr090]

jay can u tell me if harsh is going to the qualies in dc...if he is i will DEF go see him play.

[jayakris]

Too early to say. He may only decide the week before, depending on how much he has played at Granby/Aptos/Lexington/Denver..

Jay

[gvhvhg]

How will olympic points be defnded next year?? it will be odd considering none of the tourneys during that week next year will offer as many points..the gold medalist will be in for a huge drop

[PKBasu]

So, it will be just the two events before the Olympics, but both LP and MB are gearing up for the big event in an uncompromising manner, as suggested by this article:
http://hindustantimes.com/news/181_8892 ... o~me:~Paes »

I don't think anyone will care too much about losing points next year. The Olympics are the Olympics, and the ATP points won there this year will simply be regarded by the winners as a one-off bonus.
But I like the sense of focus that the Indian Express is bringing to their preparations. And it appears that MB's calculations about their seeding is precisely the same as Jay's...

[jayakris]

Or perhaps Hesh saw my calculations and didn't have to calculate much

So the mystery has been put to rest - only two events. Now that they are going in there with a 2 weeks break, and would also get a week off before Athens doubles, I am less worried of fatigue-related injuries too.

The Indian Express is about move out of the shed for an ATP event, for the first time since May 2002 in Mallorca, Spain .. Go IE!!!

Jay

[prasen9]

When do they do the seedings? By combined rank they should be about #5 now after US,Aus,Fra,Zim: very close to the Zim's, but of course with the singles players thrown in one does not know.

-pm

[jayakris]

No idea. Mahesh seemed to say that the seedings may be decided only when the draw is made. No idea when that will be, but probably not till all the teams sign-in at Athens between the 10th and 15th (tennis competition starts on the 15th sunday) .. So, it will quite possibly be based on performance including next week's Cinci masters - based on Aug 9th rankings...

MB has 500 (Canada title last year) falling off on Aug 9th (Canada and Cinci are a week earlier this time). LP has 125 dropping for Canada-2003 on Aug 9th. Now that MB has picked up 350, nothing much should be changing on his rank on Aug 9th (I believe there is an outside chance for him to jump ahead of the Bryans; I need to check). LP's rank will now go up nicly. Next week's points are gravy for both of them. Our guys are in very good shape.

Jay

[prasen9]

It would, of course, be best to win both and create some psychological pressure on the opponents and the seeding committee.
Go IE!

-pm

[jayakris]

By the way, what the heck is Woodbridge up to? .. He is entered to play with Arthurs at Athens, but he will be going there without having any preparation with Arthurs.

Woodbridge hasn't played since winning the Wimbledon with Bjorkman .. He plays Cinci with Bjorkman, and Arthurs is playing there with Hanley again.

I guess when you are Woodbridge, you can get to decide what you want to do and you get to get away with anything!

Jay

[jayakris]

Well, according to Gullermo Coria's website, he has shoulder tendinitis. he retired at 1-5 in the first round at Toronto. Has withdrawn from Cinci and has gone back to Argentina. He "hopes to play" at Olympics but it doesn;t look good.

I had Coria-Nalbandian as the one singles-only team that might get a top seed (I projected #4 actually) .. It looks quite doubtful that he would play. If at all he goes to Athens, I dooubt he can take on double duty there ..

That makes one more top seeding available, I guess.

Jay

[PKBasu]

With LP at 20 and MB at 5, the Indian Express' combined ranking is only marginally behind the team with the 4th-highest combined ranking (Black/Ullyett, whose ranks total 23). Quite frankly, it is no longer that essential for the Indian Express to get a top-4 seeding, although they have shown last week that they deserve it. Another title in Cinci, and they cannot be denied a top-4 seeding.