First two players for Olympics announced
Originally published on: 18/04/12 00:00
World No.258 Stephanie Vogt and No.212 Veronica Cepede Royg have become the first two guaranteed entrants for the women’s singles at the 2012 Olympic Games, the ITF announced today.
Vogt of Liechtenstein and Paraguay’s Cepede Royg were allocated places at the All England Club event, which takes place from 28 July – 5 August, thanks to invitations from the Tripartite Commission, which seeks to invite singles players from nations with small Olympic teams.
For this year’s Olympics, Tripartite invitations are being allocated for the women’s singles only, with the ITF Olympic Committee set to award two additional entries to players who do not receive direct entry in the men’s event.
It’s the second time 22-year-old Vogt has received a Tripartite invitation. She was offered one for the Beijing Olympics four years ago, but she ultimately missed out due to injury. Vogt ranked at a career-high No.206 in the world last October, has collected just $62,036 in career prize money and will become the first player from Liechtenstein to feature at the Olympic Tennis event. She has featured in just one WTA Tour event in 2012, losing to Alberta Brianti in the first round of qualifying in Paris.
Cepede Royg, meanwhile, will become the first player from Paraguay to feature at an Olympic Tennis Event since Rossana de los Rios in 2000. The 20-year-old climbed inside the top 200 for the first time this February, but has since dipped back to No.212. She has featured in two WTA Tour events this year, reaching the second round of qualifying in Acapulco before bowing out in her opening qualifier in Monterrey.
The entry process for all other places in the tennis event is ongoing, but direct entries will be based on the official world rankings as of Monday 11 June. Nations will then be advised which players are eligible for direct acceptance, and can submit their player nominations to the ITF and make applications for ITF Places.
The full list of entries (men’s and women’s singles and doubles) will be announced on Thursday 28 June, while entries for the mixed doubles event will be confirmed on site during the event.
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