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Friday, August 25
Tarango joins Agassi, Chang, Martin in singles


Pete Sampras wouldn't join the U.S. team for the Sydney Olympics, so fiery Jeff Tarango will represent the United States as a professional for the first time.

Tarango, 31, completes the team announced Tuesday by the U.S. Tennis Association. The other singles players are defending gold medalist Andre Agassi, Michael Chang and Todd Martin. Alex O'Brien and Jared Palmer will play doubles.

Jeff Tarango
Jeff Tarango will head to Sydney in September, representing the United States for the first time as a pro.

Sampras, who won a record 13th Grand Slam title last month at Wimbledon, said he simply didn't want to make the long trip in September to the Games, which come shortly after the U.S. Open.

Stan Smith became U.S. men's coach last week and talked with Sampras but was unable to change his mind. Jan-Michael Gambill also turned down a chance to play, opening a spot for Tarango, best known for his tantrums at Wimbledon.

"I think it's a dream come true for any athlete to make the Olympics," said Tarango, who ranks 81st in this year's ATP Tour standings. "I'm going to make the best of it."

Agassi, a second-generation Olympian, was gold medalist at Atlanta in 1996.

"Winning the Olympic gold medal is one of the greatest things that I have accomplished in my career," he said. "Competing in the Sydney Games will be very special to me. It's not even about getting a second medal, it's about the honor of being part of the Olympics."

Martin, 30, made the Olympic team for the first time. He was barely beaten out for a spot on the U.S. squad in 1996 by MaliVai Washington.

"I've always wanted to be on our Olympic team," Martin said. "To have the opportunity to play in an event as unique as the Olympics, especially at this stage of my career, is extraordinary."

Chang played for the U.S. team in 1992 at Barcelona.

O'Brien and Palmer, making their Olympic debut, are the top-ranked U.S. doubles team. This year they reached the semifinals of the Australian Open and the quarterfinals of Wimbledon.

"We have a good chance to win medals in both singles and doubles," Smith said.

The four-player women's team announced Monday includes defending gold medalist Lindsay Davenport, Monica Seles and Venus Williams in singles, and Venus and her sister Serena in doubles. The women will be coached by Billie Jean King.

The tennis event at Sydney will be held Sept. 19-28.


 

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