If the coronavirus pandemic allows it, the Tokyo Olympics, postponed last year because of the virus, will be held this summer. Tennis will be one of the sports highlighted by the participation that is expected to be spectacular in both the men's and women's teams. If all goes well, in the second Spain will have as its main reference Garbiñe Muguruza, 15th in the world, and there are at least two players who hope to accompany her: Sara Sorribes and Paula Badosa. In addition, Carla Suárez, who is being treated for cancer, will try to say goodbye to professional sport at the Olympic event if she recovers in time and is granted one of the eight invitations available to ensure the presence of athletes from all continents and They are often awarded to Olympic or Grand Slam champions, and those of the host country.
Both Sorribes and Badosa have started the year strong, with two victories in the WTA 500 in Abu Dhabi. The Castellón is 66th in the world and the Catalan, 70th. To be in Tokyo they need to appear among the top 56 * in the world rankings on June 7, 2021, because the table will be made up of 64 players. But even if their position at that time is a little below that level, they would still have qualification options since, among other things, only four tennis players from the same country can participate in singles (and two in doubles) and the United States currently has nine in the top 56, and the Czech Republic, six. In addition, there may be withdrawals and / or resignations.
“I see it feasible because I am close and I even believe that in the Olympic ranking (considers that it is a classification like the Race of the WTA Finals by the exception of the limit of participants per country) it would already be classified. I would be very excited to be thereBecause being an Olympic player is something you dream of since you were a child and being able to represent Spain is special. There are four Grand Slams a year, but Games, about every four years “, says Badosa, who would like to be in the Finals of the Billie Jean Cup, the old Federation Cup, an essential requirement in principle to be able to participate in the Games. “It's something I have in mind, I've never played that competition and I think now is my time. It wasn't when I was able to do it in the past, but now I wish I could represent Spain at once. ” “Being in the Olympic Games would be a dream for me, it is something that makes me an incredible illusion and I want to play them with everything I have”Sorribes admits that he has already represented the Navy in the competition of nations. “It would be the consequence of doing a job and that is what I am going to focus on, to play good games and hopefully they can take me to Tokyo.