Article

  • Jonas Björkman gets Olympic wildcard lifeline

    7/1/08 11:04 AM | Johan Lindahl
    - Swedish veteran Jonas Björkman was among among a dozen players thrown a lifeline with wildcards into the Beijing Olympic tournament.

    Björkman, 36, who will bow out after the August event after a career of nearly two decades, had dreamed of getting a free entry so he could go out of the game in style.

    Wildcard places in the Olympic tennis are awarded to players who do not meet the direct acceptance requirements of the tournament but who, in the view of the ITF Olympic Committee, meet other criteria that would enhance the field for the 2008 competition.

    Joining Björkman is Japan's Kei Nishikori, South African Kevin Anderson, Chile's Nicolas Massu, the 2004 Athens gold medallist, Max Mirnyi of Belarus and Sun Peng of China.

    “This is fantastic news, it was my goal to make the Olympics this year, which is my last as a professional player”, said Björkman. “It will be my third participation after Atlanta and Athens and it's my dream to end my career with an Olympic medal for Sweden”.

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