Olympic blues for the big guns of tennis

Apparently because of certain caustic comments in her autobiography about the other French women tennis players, she alienated herself. The other French women went to the French Association demanding Tauziat's expulsion from the French team to Sydney.

So though she is the second highest ranked French player after Mary Pierce Tauziat will not be a part of the team due to what the French Federation says is lack of form. Seems to be certain way to win medals at the Olympics!!!

The No. 1 doubles player in the world Lisa Raymond will also lose out on an Olympic berth because the American captain Billie Jean King has given the nod to Serena Williams for the doubles slot though Serena does not even have a doubles ranking this year.

Venus Williams had threatened after Wimbledon that if Serena did not make it to Sydney she would back out too. Seems like she scared the daylights out of Billie Jean King.

So Raymond is out and Serena in, thus the US have a dream team this time around with Venus, Lindsay Davenport and Monica Seles to play the singles and the Williams sisters playing the doubles.

Team events in tennis have always suffered the absence of high profile players. The Davis Cup, Federation Cup and the Hopman Cup have always been lamenting the non-availability of the stars.

It could be attributed to the fact that players are always on the move with their personal entourages and the fact that they come from a country hardly has any importance.

Whatever be the case, though it will be without a few of the stars Sydney will see a lot of formidable tennis talent with Rafter, Phillipoussis, Hewitt, Kafelnikov and above all Andre Agassi in the men's section and Seles, the Williams' and Davenport in the women's draw.

So let the Games begin.

1 2