Zimbabwe’s Cara Black Gets Olympic Wildcard

Doubles star Cara Black has received a special invitation to compete for Zimbabwe at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

The International Tennis Federation and the Tripartite Commission announced on Monday that Black has been awarded a wildcard entry into the Olympics.

The Tripartite Commission consists of representatives from the International Olympic Committee, National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and the ITF.

Invitations generally go to players from nations and regions with small Olympic teams. Black’s entry means that Zimbabwe will make its first appearance since 2000.

Black is the current ITF World Doubles Champion and joint world No. 1 with American partner Liezel Huber. The Zimbabwean has won 40 career doubles titles, including six Grand Slam events. She previously took part in singles in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, having reached a career-high singles world ranking of No. 31 in 1999.

Stephanie Vogt, a junior player from Liechtenstein, was also awarded a wildcard berth.

Vogt, 17, is currently ranked No. 6 on the ITF Junior World Ranking, having already won two singles and two doubles titles this year in South America. She has played eight Fed Cup ties for Liechtenstein and combines junior competition with ITF Women’s Circuit events.

In the singles events at Beijing, there will be 56 places allocated on direct acceptance, six ITF places, and the two Tripartite Commission Invitation places announced today.

All nations will be advised by June 12 which of their players are eligible for direct entry based on the world rankings of June 9.

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