OLYMPICS: MIXED DOUBLES EVENT, 30/7-5/8 2012. Draw and Information

[Sallydaisy]

http://www.ssaa.org.au/olympics/2012/london-2012-olympics-logo.gif

LONDON 2012 - Olympics Tennis, Mixed Doubles Event
All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon, London
WEB SITE: http://2012.itftennis.com/olympics/home.aspx (http://2012.itftennis.com/olympics/home.aspx)

16 Draw Mixed Doubles.
SURFACE: Grass
BALL: Slazenger Wimbledon Ultra Vis Hydroguard

The mixed doubles event is making a return to the Olympics as a medal sport for the first time since Paris 1924. The event was also contested at Mexico 1968, but at that Olympics tennis was only an exhibition sport and wasn't re-intoduced as a medal sport until Seoul 1988.

MIXED DOUBLES DRAW
Mixed doubles draw: Tuesday, July 31, time ???
Onsite entries only from players already involved in Singles and Doubles events.
Maximum entries of 2 teams per nation. 12 Direct Acceptances based on combined singles/doubles rankings on 21/6/12. 4 ITF places (Wildcards).

[1] Azarenka/Mirnyi(BLR) v Kerber/Petzschner(GER)
Mirza/Paes(IND) v Ivanovic/Zimonjic(SRB)

Bryan/Raymond(USA) v Errani/Seppi(ITA)
Dulko/Del Potro (ARG) v Vesnina/Youzhny(RUS)

Robson/Murray(GBR) v Hradecka/Stepanek(CZE)
Stosur/Hewitt(AUS) v A.Radwanska/Matkowski(POL)

Arvidsson/Lindstedt(SWE) v Vinci/Bracciali(ITA)
Lisicki/Kas(GER) v [2] Huber/Bryan(USA)

[Sallydaisy]

Andy and Laura get into the Mixed Doubles Entry List with a 'Wild Card'.

The Mixed Doubles Draw isn't yet up on the official sites but here's some news from twitter:-


Wimbledon ‏@Wimbledon (https://twitter.com/Wimbledon) Notable Mixed Doubles pairs: Hewitt/Stosur, Dulko/DelPo, Azarenka/Mirnyi, Robson/Murray, Raymond/Bryan, Huber/Bryan, Zimonjic/Ivanovic

[cazza99]

Stuart Fraser ‏@stu_fraser

Andy Murray to play mixed doubles with Laura Robson. GB had to rely on ITF place.

:yahoo: :yahoo:

[RoastLamb]

What does that last sentence mean?

[cazza99]

What does that last sentence mean?

I think it means they did not qualify on combined ranking.

http://2012.itftennis.com/olympics/results/mixed-doubles.aspx

[Sallydaisy]

What does that last sentence mean?
It's effectively a Wild Card issued by the ITF.
There's a chunk of information on the Mixed Doubles here (http://www.andymurrayfanforum.com/forums/showthread.php?1227-OLYMPICS-TENNIS-29-7-5-8-2012-Tournament-Thread-Information-Draws-OOP-s&p=84924&viewfull=1#post84924) in the forum.

Let's hope Andy and Laura can win all 4 of their matches ........
:GBflag:

[cazza99]

Just hope Andy/Laura don't meet one of the Bryan twins early on.

[Sallydaisy]

Just hope Andy/Laura don't meet one of the Bryan twins early on.
The Mixed Draw isn't actually out yet - just the Entry List.

ITF Olympic Tennis ‏@OlympicsTennis (https://twitter.com/OlympicsTennis) The draw for the Olympic mixed doubles event will take place shortly @Wimbledon (https://twitter.com/Wimbledon) - view the full entry list here http://tiny.cc/jdcbiw (http://t.co/4PjKhoYr)


Entry list
- Argentina: Gisela Dulko / Juan Martin del Potro
- Australia: Samantha Stosur / Lleyton Hewitt (ITF Place)
- Belarus: Victoria Azarenka / Max Mirnyi
- Czech Republic: Lucie Hradecka / Radek Stepanek
- Germany: Angelique Kerber / Philipp Petzschner
- Germany: Sabine Lisicki / Christopher Kas
- Great Britain: Laura Robson / Andy Murray (ITF Place)
- India: Sania Mirza / Leander Paes
- Italy: Roberta Vinci / Daniele Bracciali
- Italy: Sara Errani / Andreas Seppi
- Poland: Agnieszka Radwanska / Marcin Matkowski
- Russia: Elena Vesnina / Mikhail Youzhny (ITF Place)
- Serbia: Ana Ivanovic / Nenad Zimonjic
- Sweden: Sofia Arvidsson / Robert Lindstedt (ITF Place)
- USA: Lisa Raymond / Mike Bryan
- USA: Liezel Huber / Bob Bryan


Alternate list
1. Spain: Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez / Marcel Granollers
2. Romania: Irina-Camelia Begu / Horia Tecau
3. Canada: Aleksandra Wozniak / Daniel Nestor
4. Poland: Klaudia Jans-Ignacik / Mariusz Fyrstenberg

[Sallydaisy]

Andy's playing Mixed Doubles tomorow - no idea yet what time.


Stuart Fraser ‏@stu_fraser (https://twitter.com/stu_fraser) Murray & Robson draw Czechs Hradecka & Stepanek in the first round of the mixed doubles.
Due to be played tomorrow.

[Reef]

Anyone know why Andy opted to play mixed doubles?

[davech]

Anyone know why Andy opted to play mixed doubles?

Well, for one thing it's another opportunity to win gold.

[Sallydaisy]

Anyone know why Andy opted to play mixed doubles?
Just 4 matches to play for a Gold Medal???
;)

Haven't heard anything else so far but Andy will probably be asked the question in a presser sometime soon.

The British pair got in on a Wildcard (1 of 4 given at the discretion of the ITF) because even with Andy's singles ranking he and Laura wouldn't have made the DA cut-off (it was based on rankings on 21st June). I've heard that Paul Hutchins asked for 2 Wildcard places but don't know the other who the other pair were - probably Heather and Ross or Colin?

No OOP just yet but in theory Andy will play R3 singles and R1 mixed doubles tomorrow.

[rondun]

Plus mixed is 2 sets + a MTB - its a no brainer surely?

[cazza99]

Laura Robson ‏@laurarobson5

The crowd on centre court today was unforgettable. Thank you all! Really excited for mixed doubles with @andy_murray. #goteamGB

[Sallydaisy]

Anyone know why Andy opted to play mixed doubles?
ANDY MURRAY ACCEPTS LAURA ROBSON PROPOSAL
The Daily Express has this article (http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/336715/Andy-Murray-accepts-Laura-Robson-proposal) on Andy and the Mixed Doubles event.

Robson revealed that it was she who had to pop the question, but after getting a belated “I do”, she is insisting on equal rights as they prepare to face Czech pair Lucie Hradecka and Radek Stepanek today. “I asked him during Indian Wells this year,” she said. “I said that I hadn’t got a partner and, if he’s interested, then I’m available. Then I didn’t hear anything else really until the other day. “It should be really fun playing with Andy. We haven’t played since the Hopman Cup in 2011, so it’s going to be tough. But who knows?

Murray had the pick of British women as Heather Watson also expressed an interest in partnering him, in an event that is returning to the Olympics for the first time since 1924. “Heather Watson has played some very good doubles this year and is our No 1 player as well, so obviously it’s tough for her,” said Murray. “But tough decisions have to be made sometimes. It was hard but I listened to what the coaches on the team had to say.
“Mixed is something I haven’t played that much of in the past. It’s going to be a challenge but, if we play well, we’ve got a chance of winning matches. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to try to win a medal at your home Games.”

[Linda]

It would be lovely if Andy & Laura won a medal!

[cazza99]

There a few more articles in the newspaper thread. Apparently Heather is upset she has not been chosen.

http://www.andymurrayfanforum.com/forums/showthread.php?44-Newspaper-and-internet-reports&p=86769#post86769

[lynne]

I have just read on Facebook that few of the mixed have been postponed including Andy's..............can't find any confirmation on this though!!

[Linda]

They're saying that on Twitter too, I'm sure it's right.

[lynne]

It is saying on the schedule postponed............http://www.london2012.com/tennis/event/mixed-doubles/phase=tex002400/index.html


It takes ages for the names to appear!!!!

[Sallydaisy]

Andy's Mixed Doubles match has deffo been postponed until tomorrow. I suspect the rain delays earlier have meant they'll focus on completing the singles and doubles R3 ahead of all the Quarter-Final matches tomorrow.


Neil Harman ‏@NeilHarmanTimes (https://twitter.com/NeilHarmanTimes) No mixed tonight for Murray/Robson. Back tomorrow for that one



Barry Flatman ‏@Barry_FlatmanST (https://twitter.com/Barry_FlatmanST) Murray comes from behind to beat Baghdatis...and then gets told his mixed doubles with Laura Robson is held over until tomorrow



5 of the R1 Mixed Doubles matches have been played.

The London2012 website is pretty slow ..... and the ITF one nearly as bad!!!
It'll be fun extracting the OOP later this evening.

[rondun]

That's a pity considering Stepy's 4 1/2 hr epic today

[david1610]

Tricky.....
Interesting comments by Andy on choosing Laura. I hope Heateher and Laura can sort it out as they need to stay friends and doubles partners for quite some time to come!

I would be interested to know from a professional coach what the (current) relative strengths and weakness of the two when it comes to mixed doubles!

[cazza99]

I guess the press have exaggerated something Heather said.

[-J-]

Tricky.....
Interesting comments by Andy on choosing Laura. I hope Heateher and Laura can sort it out as they need to stay friends and doubles partners for quite some time to come!

I would be interested to know from a professional coach what the (current) relative strengths and weakness of the two when it comes to mixed doubles!think heather has every right to be peeved, specially if they do go on to medal

[Alis]

I'm pretty sure Andy asked Laura if she would play the mixed with him at the Olympics during the Hopman Cup two years ago. It would have been pretty harsh to go back on that.

[rondun]

I'm pretty sure Andy asked Laura if she would play the mixed with him at the Olympics during the Hopman Cup two years ago. It would have been pretty harsh to go back on that.Didn't she say "she'd think about it if she didn't get any better offers" and he said he wouldn't bother asking her again?!

[Madeline]

She says she asked him during Indian Wells this year. I read that somewhere among the many articles on it in the Newspaper thread.

[Helen40]

Didn't she say "she'd think about it if she didn't get any better offers" and he said he wouldn't bother asking her again?!
I thought they were noth just kidding about.

[cazza99]

I think I read something not long before the Olympics that Heather was going to play mixed with either Flemming or Hutchins.

I think they shoud have allowed more entrants.

[Sallydaisy]

I think they shoud have allowed more entrants.
Yes, if they were going to include it as an Olympic discipline a 32 draw would have given it better presence. It's only been tested out as an 'exhibition' event once since it was last fully Olympic in 1924. As it was GBR only got Andy/Laura in as Wildcards.

[Sallydaisy]

Sabine Lisicki/Chris Kas have beaten No.2 seeds Huber & Bob Bryan 76(5) 67(5) 10-5.
;)

[RoastLamb]

Watched that match - really good. Happy for Team Germany.

[Sallydaisy]

Did you see that Sportlemon link I posted to watch RobRay?

[RoastLamb]

Did you see that Sportlemon link I posted to watch RobRay?

No, sorry. I found another link albeit with Polish commentary.

[pabbers]

Really pleased for Sabine Lisicki - I just love her! Messed up my predictions though :doh:

[JAMES4578]

Someone against the odds but obviously a tight match,well done Lisicki and Kas!

[rainy days]

Really happy for Lisicki/Kas. Here's to hoping they can capture a medal for Germany. Being half German and all. ;)

[LC the fan]

Reaslly enjoyed Andy and Laura's match. She started off so nervous but Andy seems to bring out the best in her.

Love to see them play together

[RoastLamb]

Really pleased for Sabine Lisicki - I just love her! Messed up my predictions though :doh:

Yeah, I had them winning the gold. :doh:


Really happy for Lisicki/Kas. Here's to hoping they can capture a medal for Germany. Being half German and all. ;)

I'm half German too so can't help rooting for them. And Sabine has such a sunny smile as well, how can you not fall in love with her?

[-J-]

Yeah, I had them winning the gold. :doh: I'm half German too so can't help rooting for them. And Sabine has such a sunny smile as well, how can you not fall in love with her?you are one mixed up chick Teutonic cannuck brit TCB

[RoastLamb]

you are one mixed up chick Teutonic cannuck brit TCB

I'm just a bit of a hybrid. I'll support anyone if it suits me. :lol:

[rainy days]

Lol

[RoastLamb]

Team Germany down a set. Poo!

[rainy days]

Lisicki/Kas are through to the semis!!! YEEEEEEEEES!

[RoastLamb]

Lisicki/Kas are through to the semis!!! YEEEEEEEEES!

Thanks for that! AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :yahoo:

[rainy days]

If Andy/Laura win today they will play against them. What a dilemma. But my heart lies with Andy.

[RoastLamb]

If Andy/Laura win today they will play against them. What a dilemma. But my heart lies with Andy.

Oh crap! I go for Team GB all the way in that case, if it's against Team Aussies then not.

[rainy days]

^ Same!

Although I really like Lleyton. Sucks that there can only be one winner.

[RoastLamb]

Never liked Hewitt but I really like Sam Stosur and she's a great dubs player.

[rainy days]

Obviously Andy/Laura will win today though. ;)

[RoastLamb]

Obviously.

[david1610]

Well if del Potro and Federer continue as they are the question will start to become whether it will get played!

[rondun]

Delpo's due on court 2 now for his mixed quarter!

[rainy days]

^ He gets an hour off though, I think.

[Linda]

So what will they do on Court 2? They can't swap the matches over 'cos Azarenka's on Centre at the mo!

Could they put Andy on Court 2? :shocked:

[rainy days]

I hope not. Hmm.

[rondun]

^ He gets an hour off though, I think.:lol: Cos that's gonna help!

[Sallydaisy]

The schedulers surely had a tricky task in setting up todays schedule and hindsight is a wonderful thing.
But TBH they would have been wiser to play the Mens Singles at the same time using both Centre and Court 1. In so doing they'd have also honoured the original schedule which suggested that the Court 1 would have a Mens Semi played on it today.

Biggest problem was that they would have had to bunt either Andy or Federer to Court 1.
In the end they opted for putting both onto Centre and that has screwed up the OOP. And they missed a trick with a couple of matches e.g. the Mens dubs between France and Spain which didn't have singles players in.

They knew that both Andy and Fran had Mixed Doubles Quarters to play (they should have been done yesterday but were held up because of the rain delays).

So if it was me I'd have done this .......... and risked ire from the Feddykins and his fans.
It would have allowed a match length break for all those concerned playing in singles and doubles.

CENTRE COURT - 12noon start
LS-SF: [1]Azarenka v [4]S.Williams
MS-SF: [2]Djokovic v [3]Murray
LD-SF: [3]Kirilenko/Petrova v Williams/Williams
MD-SF: Ferrer/Lopez v [2] Llodra/Tsonga(FRA)

COURT ONE - 12noon start
LS-SF: [3]Sharapova v [14]Kirilenko
MS-SF: [1]Federer v [8]Del Potro
LD-SF: [1] Huber/Raymond(USA) v Hvalackova/Hradecka(CZE)
MX-QF: Robson/Murray(GBR) v Stosur/Hewitt(AUS)

COURT TWO - 12.30 start
MD-SF: [1]Bryan/Bryan v Benneteau/Gasquet(FRA)
MX-QF: Lisicki/Kas(GER) v Vinci/Bracciali(ITA)
MX-QF: Mirza/Paes(IND) v [1]Azarenka/Mirnyi(BLR)
MX-QF: Dulko/Del Potro(ARG) v Raymond/Bryan(USA)

'cos what they actually did is causing problems - 6hrs of play and only 5 matches completed, with perhaps 2 more to finish within the next 15mins?

CENTRE COURT - 12noon start
MS-SF: [1]Federer v [8]Del Potro PLAYED
LS-SF: [1]Azarenka v [4]S.Williams Could be over just after 6pm.
MS-SF: [2]Djokovic v [3]Murray To start around 6.15pm
LD-SF: [3]Kirilenko/Petrova v Williams/Williams Has to wait for the Mens singles to finish

COURT ONE - 12noon start
LD-SF: [1] Huber/Raymond(USA) v Hvalackova/Hradecka(CZE) PLAYED
LS-SF: [3]Sharapova v [14]Kirilenko PLAYED
MD-SF: Ferrer/Lopez v [2] Llodra/Tsonga(FRA) Could be over just after 6pm.
MX-QF: Robson/Murray(GBR) v Stosur/Hewitt(AUS) To start around 6.15pm

COURT TWO - 12.30 start
MD-SF: [1]Bryan/Bryan v Benneteau/Gasquet(FRA) PLAYED
MX-QF: Lisicki/Kas(GER) v Vinci/Bracciali(ITA) PLAYED
MX-QF: Dulko/Del Potro(ARG) v Raymond/Bryan(USA) Due to play one hour after DelPo finishes a 4hr+ match
MX-QF: Mirza/Paes(IND) v [1]Azarenka/Mirnyi(BLR)

[-J-]

where are we in the women's semi ?

[RoastLamb]

Seren jsut had MP on Aza's serve.

[Linda]

Williams serving for the match.

[Sallydaisy]

where are we in the women's semi ?
One has already been played - first up on Court 1.
Hvalackova/Hradecka beat Huber/Raymond.

Serena and Vika both have another match to play tonight.
Serena in the other ladies dubs and Vika with MaxBaby in the Mixed QF v Mirza/Paes.

[Sallydaisy]

Props to DelP - he's back out on Court 2 playing his mixed doubles match, serving at *2-3.

[Sallydaisy]

Bryan/Raymond are probably going to be on Court 1 next to play their Mixed Semi against Azarenka/Mirnyi.

[RoastLamb]

I hope Aza/Mirnyi win. Only coz I love Max and he's Danny's partner. And despite the fact they beat Team India in the 1/4s.