|
|
Friday, August 25
Tarango joins Agassi, Chang, Martin in singles
Associated Press
Pete Sampras wouldn't join the U.S. team for the Sydney
Olympics, so fiery Jeff Tarango will represent the United States as
a professional for the first time.
Tarango, 31, completes the team announced Tuesday by the U.S.
Tennis Association. The other singles players are defending gold
medalist Andre Agassi, Michael Chang and Todd Martin. Alex O'Brien
and Jared Palmer will play doubles.
|  | | Jeff Tarango will head to Sydney in September, representing the United States for the first time as a pro. |
Sampras, who won a record 13th Grand Slam title last month at
Wimbledon, said he simply didn't want to make the long trip in
September to the Games, which come shortly after the U.S. Open.
Stan Smith became U.S. men's coach last week and talked with
Sampras but was unable to change his mind. Jan-Michael Gambill also
turned down a chance to play, opening a spot for Tarango, best
known for his tantrums at Wimbledon.
"I think it's a dream come true for any athlete to make the
Olympics," said Tarango, who ranks 81st in this year's ATP Tour
standings. "I'm going to make the best of it."
Agassi, a second-generation Olympian, was gold medalist at
Atlanta in 1996.
"Winning the Olympic gold medal is one of the greatest things
that I have accomplished in my career," he said. "Competing in
the Sydney Games will be very special to me. It's not even about
getting a second medal, it's about the honor of being part of the
Olympics."
Martin, 30, made the Olympic team for the first time. He was
barely beaten out for a spot on the U.S. squad in 1996 by MaliVai
Washington.
"I've always wanted to be on our Olympic team," Martin said.
"To have the opportunity to play in an event as unique as the
Olympics, especially at this stage of my career, is
extraordinary."
Chang played for the U.S. team in 1992 at Barcelona.
O'Brien and Palmer, making their Olympic debut, are the
top-ranked U.S. doubles team. This year they reached the semifinals
of the Australian Open and the quarterfinals of Wimbledon.
"We have a good chance to win medals in both singles and
doubles," Smith said.
The four-player women's team announced Monday includes defending
gold medalist Lindsay Davenport, Monica Seles and Venus Williams in
singles, and Venus and her sister Serena in doubles. The women will
be coached by Billie Jean King.
The tennis event at Sydney will be held Sept. 19-28.
|  | |
ALSO SEE
U.S. women eye medal sweep in Olympic tennis
Kournikova to skip Summer Olympics
Australia's Dokic leans toward playing in Olympics
Top-ranked Hingis cites hard facts for skipping Olympics
|