(Patrick)McEnroe, Garrison Named U.S. Olympic Team Coaches
Photo By Susan Mullane By Tennis Week
02/18/2004
Familiar faces will be in familiar places when the United States tennis team h
its the court in Athens for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games. The USTA has selecte
d Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe and U.S. Fed Cup captain Zina Garrison to c
oach the U.S. men旧 and women旧 Olympic teams at the Athens Summer Olympics.
"We have the nucleus of a very competitive international men旧 team who will al
l be medal contenders in Athens," said McEnroe. "Our corps of young American me
n have bonded as members of the U.S. Davis Cup team and I know they will relish
the opportunity to compete in Athens."
In addition, Dan James, Head U.S. National Wheelchair Team Coach, has been name
d coach for the U.S. Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis Team.
"The Paralympics is the ultimate platform for worldwide competition among outst
anding wheelchair athletes," said James. "It is a tremendous privilege to coach
at the highest level of international play and I am eager to begin our quest f
or medals now."
The USTA will formally announce the trio as captains at a Manhattan press confe
rence this afternoon.
The 2004 Olympic Games will be held August 13-28th in Athens, Greece, with the
tennis competition being staged August 15th-22nd at the Athens Olympic Tennis C
enter. The 2004 Paralympic Games will be held September 17-28th in Athens with
the tennis competition scheduled for September 19-26th at the same venue.
"Zina, Patrick and Dan each possess that rare combination of heart, character a
nd competitive fire that define leadership and are synonymous with the Olympic
ideal," said Alan Schwartz, Chairman of the Board and President, USTA. "Each br
ings experience as an accomplished player and coach, possessing a unique abilit
y to connect with the athletes to lead our quest for 2004 gold."
Former Wimbledon finalist Garrison served as assistant coach to Billie Jean Kin
g at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympic Games that saw Venus Williams win the gold
medal in singles and partner with younger sister Serena to strike gold in doubl
es. The Williams sisters have both stated their desire to defend their gold med
als at the Athens Games.
"I観 honored to be selected as the Olympic coach," said Garrison. "Some of my f
ondest tennis memories are from the Olympics and the incomparable thrill of win
ning a gold medal. The goal is to share in that Olympic experience with our tea
m this summer."
The Olympic competition will be conclude eight days prior to the US Open and wi
ll be played on the same DecoTurf II hard court surface as the U.S. Open.
"With the top names in tennis competing in Athens prior to the U.S. Open, the O
lympics add another dimension to what will be a very exciting summer of tennis,
" said Arlen Kantarian, Chief Executive, Professional Tennis, USTA. "There are
few, if any, international stages bigger than the Olympics, and tennis certainl
y benefits from being part of the competition."
The 2004 U.S. Olympic tennis team will consist of up to six men and six women,
with a maximum of four men and four women competing in the singles competition
and a maximum of two men旧 and two women旧 teams competing in doubles. Team sel
ections will be based on ATP and WTA Tour rankings as of June 14, 2004 and team
s will be named by June 28.
The United States has won 14 Olympic medals in men旧 and women旧 tennis since i
ts return as a full medal sport in 1988 -- more than any other nation -- includ
ing three in 2000 in Sydney. U.S. players have won eight medals at the Paralymp
ics, including a silver and bronze in 2000.
&The 2004 Paralympic wheelchair tennis team will consist of a maximum of four m
en and four women in the wheelchair singles competition, with no more than two
doubles teams in the wheelchair doubles competition. In the quad wheelchair com
petition (limited movement or strength in at least three extremities), a maximu
m of three players may compete in the event, with a maximum of three in the sin
gles event and one team in the doubles event. Team selections will be based on
ITF Wheelchair Tennis World Rankings from April 12, 2004.
&Wheelchair tennis was introduced to the Paralympic program in 1988 as an exhib
ition event before becoming a full medal sport at the 1992 Paralympic Games in
Barcelona. Paralympic tennis is an open competition, eligible to those athletes
with a mobility-related disability and all competitors must compete in a wheel
chair.
The U.S. Olympic Committee will approve all team and staff selections for the O
lympic Games.
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