Williams Sisters, Davenport, Blake Named to US Olympic Tennis Team

The governing body for tennis in the United States has named a nine-member Olympic team for the 2008 Beijing Games in August.

The U.S. Tennis Association said Thursday the team includes four women and five men.

Women's coach Zina Garrison selected former gold medalists Venus Williams, younger sister Serena Williams, and Lindsay Davenport for singles. For doubles, Garrison chose world No. 1 doubles player Liezel Huber to team with Davenport, and the Williams sisters for the other pair.

Men's coach Rodney Harmon went with singles players James Blake, Sam Querrey and Robby Ginepri, who will all be making their Olympic debut. Harmon chose world ranked No. 1 duo, Bob and Mike Bryan for one doubles pair, with Blake and Querrey teaming up for the other.

The highest ranked male U.S. player, Andy Roddick, had indicated in March that he did not want to be considered for the Olympic team. Instead, he will defend his title at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic here, in Washington.

All nine players named have either competed in the Olympics previously, or have represented the United States in international play as members of the U.S. Davis Cup or Fed Cup teams.

The USTA says the United States has won 15 Olympic medals in tennis since it became a full medal sport in 1988. That is more than any other nation.