Tokyo 2020: Djokovic, Federer named; Barty, Osaka head field in women's singles

A first-time gold-medal winner is assured in the women's singles with Puerto Rico's defending champion Monica Puig unable to compete because of injury.

Published : Jul 01, 2021 19:03 IST , London

FILE PHOTO: Roger Federer of Switzerland, left, and Serbia's Novak Djokovic during Wimbledon 2019.
FILE PHOTO: Roger Federer of Switzerland, left, and Serbia's Novak Djokovic during Wimbledon 2019.
lightbox-info

FILE PHOTO: Roger Federer of Switzerland, left, and Serbia's Novak Djokovic during Wimbledon 2019.

World number one Novak Djokovic and 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer were both named on the list of players for the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday - a boost for a tournament hit by high-profile withdrawals.

Women's world number one Ashleigh Barty and Japan's Naomi Osaka head the field in the women's singles.

A first-time gold-medal winner is assured in the women's singles with Puerto Rico's defending champion Monica Puig unable to compete because of injury.

Two-time champion Andy Murray, whose ranking has slipped to 118 as he battles to come back from hip surgery, will be aiming to win gold for the third Olympics in succession.

READ |

Djokovic, who is bidding at Wimbledon to match Federer and Rafael Nadal's record Grand Slam haul, won a singles bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing when Federer won doubles gold.

An Olympic singles gold is the one major prize that still eludes the two players who are vying, along with Nadal, to be considered the greatest of all time.

A total of 46 nations will be represented at the Olympic tennis event which will be held at the Ariake Tennis Park from July 24 until August 1.

Several big names will not be travelling to Tokyo including former singles and doubles gold-medallist Nadal, four-time gold-medallist Serena Williams, U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem and Romanian two-time Grand Slam winner Simona Halep.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment