Beijing Olympics 2008

India@Beijing Olympics 2008: Tennis begins Monday

India’s Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi will look to regain their old chemistry when they begin their quest for that elusive Olympic medal in men’s doubles as they take on talented Gael Monfils and Gilles Simon of France in the opening round at the Olympic Green Tennis Centre on Monday.

Despite being seeded, the duo has been handed a tough draw and will have to come up with something special to get into medal contention. Though the Indians are seeded seventh, and should the Indians win the first round, they could run into Czech pair, Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek, both very good doubles players. Also in the same second quarter is Swiss pair Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka.

A day later Sania, still struggling with post surgery pain in her right wrist, opens her singles campaign against Czech Iveta Benesova. Sania has slipped to 50th in world rankings, following her series of early exits in the run-up to Olympics.

And in case Sania overcomes her 3-0 jinx against Benesova, she will most likely run into 2000 Olympic champion and Wimbledon title-holder Venus Williams in the second round. The Hyderabadi will also be pairing with India’s No.2 player Sunitha Rao in the doubles.

Things for Sunitha-Sania will be tough too as and if they win the opening round, they are likely to face top seeded Russians Svetlana Kuznetsova and Dinara Safina.

Tags: beijing olympics 2008, Besenova, czech, Dinara Safina, france, Gael Monfils, Gilles Simon, Iveta Benesova, leander paes, mahesh bhupathi, mens doubles, Olympic Green Tennis Centre, Radek Stepanek, roger federer, russia, Sania Mirza, Stanislas Wawrinka, Sunitha-Sania, Svetlana Kuznetsova, swiss, Tennis, Tomas Berdych, venus williams