Canadian tennis team nominated for Rio 2016

Canada was also awarded one additional doubles entry by the International Tennis Federation, granting a final qualification place to Bouchard and Dabrowski in the women’s doubles competition. Dabrowski has become a doubles specialist on the professional circuit in recent years with a world ranking of No. 44.

Pospisil continues to be one of the world’s best doubles players, capturing a title at a tournament in Rotterdam and reaching two Masters 1000 finals so far this year at Indian Wells and Rome with American partner Jack Sock. Nestor joins him in the top ranks, as the eight-time Grand Slam champion reached his fifth career Australian Open doubles final in January and is one of only 12 players to hold a career Golden Slam, winning all four Grand Slams and an Olympic gold medal.

On the women’s side, Bouchard is in the midst of a bounce-back campaign that has seen her reach tour event finals at Kuala Lumpur and Hobart while Dabrowski recently captured her third career WTA doubles trophy at Mallorca with Spanish partner Maria José Martinez Sánchez.

This will be the sixth Olympic Games for Nestor and second for Pospisil, who competed at London 2012, and the first for Bouchard and Dabrowski. Canada’s only Olympic tennis medal was won at Sydney 2000 where Daniel Nestor and Sébastien Lareau won gold.

The Olympic tennis competition will take place at the Olympic Tennis Centre August 6-14 with five events: Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles. The entry list for mixed doubles will also be based on ranking but will be determined via an on-site sign-in the week of the event and will be comprised of athletes/teams that are already participating in one of the other four draws.

At Rio 2016, Canada expects to field a team of more than 314 athletes.

Tennis Canada is a non-profit, national sport association with a mission to lead the growth of tennis in Canada and a vision to become a world-leading tennis nation. The organization values teamwork, passion, integrity, innovation and excellence. Tennis Canada owns and operates the successful Premier 5 and Masters 1000 WTA and ATP World Tour events in Toronto and Montreal, eight professional ITF-sanctioned events and financially supports 15 other professional tournaments in Canada. Tennis Canada operates national junior training centres/programs in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Tennis Canada invests all surplus into tennis development.

QUOTES

“I’m extremely excited to participate in my second Olympic Games in Rio this summer as part of Team Canada. It is an honour to represent my country and I take great pride in doing so whenever I get the opportunity. I will continue to work hard on my game and prepare every way possible to be ready for the challenge of competing for a medal.”

Vasek Pospisil, Rio 2016 athlete

“I’m looking forward to the Olympics this summer in Rio. This will be my first Olympic Games so it will be very special for me.”

Eugenie Bouchard, Rio 2016 athlete

“We all know the tremendous talent these individuals have, we have seen it time and time again on the international stage. They are the reason that the rest of the world has been carefully paying attention to the growth of tennis in Canada. I am very excited and very proud to have these athletes on Team Canada, congratulations on your nomination.”

Curt Harnett, Rio 2016 Team Canada Chef de Mission

“We are extremely proud to be sending this team to compete in Rio as it is the strongest we’ve ever had. We expect tennis to be one of the marquee events at the Olympic Games and this stellar player field certainly reflects that. We know that these athletes will represent our country with pride and passion as part of Team Canada and we are so looking forward to seeing them give their all on the court.”

Kelly Murumets, President and CEO, Tennis Canada

“Congratulations to the tennis players named today to the Canadian team who will represent our country at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. I commend Tennis Canada on having done a phenomenal job of supporting our athletes and wish Team Canada good luck this summer. All of Canada is behind you.”

The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities

The tennis team which will represent Canada at Rio 2016 includes:

Athletes:

Prior to being named to the final Canadian Rio 2016 Team, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Federations.