Bryans Could Face Federer/Wawrinka in Olympic QFs

By Chris Oddo

(July 26, 2012)—It’s no secret that the American men’s best hopes of medaling at the 2012 Olympic Games rest with Mike and Bob Bryan. Without a top ten player in the singles draw, the top-seeded twin tandem from Camarillo, California should gets lots of love from American television if they can put themselves in position to complete the elusive Golden Slam.

But their chances of doing that got a little more complicated on Thursday when it was learned that they'd drawn Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka as a potential quarterfinal opponent.

The Bryans lost to Federer and Wawrinka 7-6(6), 6-4 in the semifinals of the 2008 Games before eventually winning bronze.

The presence of some of tennis's biggest megastars in the doubles draw is one of the things that makes tennis at the Olympics unique--and compelling. It's also why the Bryans are still searching for that elusive doubles gold to add to their sparkling list of achievements.

The Bryans have finished No. 1 in the world a record seven times and they own more titles than any other doubles tandem in tennis history (78). They’ve also won eleven Grand Slams (including two Wimbledons), which is only one shy of the all-time record.

But when it comes to Olympic gold, they might as well be Mary Decker.

Federer and Wawrinka are seeded sixth at the event and will open against Kei Nishikori and Go Soeda of Japan.

The Bryans open with Thomaz Bellucci and Andre Sa of Brazil.

Big Names Set to Electrify the Doubles Draw

Doubles is always lots of fun to watch. It's fast-paced, improvisational, and it features lots of smashes, body blows and crazy angles. At the 2012 games, thanks to the pull of nationalism and the allure of gold, scads of top singles players are entering the fray.

Former World No. 1’s Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick (paired with World No. 11 John Isner) are entered, as well as current top ten singles players Andy Murray (paired with his brother Jamie), David Ferrer (paired with Feliciano Lopez) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (paired with Michael Llodra) , Janko Tipsarevic (paired with Djokovic), and Tomas Berdych (paired with Radek Stepanek).

The 32-team doubles draw was released Thursday morning, along with the men’s singles, women’s singles and women’s doubles draw.

(Photo Credit: Mark Corleve)