– EVENTS: Men-48-player singles tournament, 24-pair doubles tournament;
Women-48-player singles tournament, 24-pair doubles tournament.
– FORMAT: The top 40 players in the world qualify if they have competed in Davis Cup (men) or Federation Cup (women). Others qualify in regional tournaments or as wild cards named by the International Tennis Federation. A maximum of three men and three women may represent any country.
Several top players-including Monica Seles, Gabriela Sabatini and Martina Navratilova-will not participate because they did not play in the Federation Cup last year.
After a 64-year absence from the Olympics, tennis returned as a demonstration sport in 1984. When it became a medal sport in 1988, pros were allowed to compete.
– MEDAL WATCH: Jim Courier seems like a good bet for a gold medal. The Olympic surface will be red clay, and Courier has won the French Open on it the last two years. Jennifer Capriati should come home with a medal, but it`s hard to see her beating Steffi Graf for the gold.
A lot of people believe the Spanish siblings, Emilio Sanchez and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, are the favorites because they will have boisterous crowds to sustain them. But that brings a lot of pressure as well. In fact, Emilio says he`d rather win an Olympic gold medal than a Grand Slam title because Spain won`t have many chances to win Olympic medals.
With three of the world`s top four women missing, Graf should have no problem prevailing. She could go home a double winner, teaming with rising star Anke Huber in doubles.
