Vasek Pospisil will partner with the No. 1 doubles tennis player in the world and represent Canada at the London Summer Games.
I am very excited to live the Olympic experience but when it comes down to the tournament, Im going to be extremely focused. Ill take it point by point like any other tournament and give it my best. Pospisil said Nestor is a childhood idol.
These will be the first Olympics for the 21-year-old Vancouverite and the fifth consecutive Games for 39-year-old Daniel Nestor who won Canadas only Olympic gold medal in tennis with Sebastien Lareau in 2000 at the Sydney Games. Pospisil, a six-foot-four right-handed player, turns 22 later this month.
Pospisil also said his father and coach, Milos, is overjoyed. Hes put his heart and soul into this.
For Olympic doubles tennis, the worlds top 10 players receive direct entry and choose a compatriot as the partner of their choice. Nestor selected Pospisil to compete with him on the grass courts at the All England Club in Wimbledon, the tennis venue for the London Games.
Pospisil was in the Toronto airport when he got the call from Nestor. Obviously, I was really happy and excited and I thanked him right away.
The duo hold a 2-0 Davis Cup record, which includes a crucial win over Grand Slam champions Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram during Canadas World Group play-off versus Israel.
Im very proud to be in a position where I can represent my country and hopefully bring back another medal, said Nestor in a Tennis Canada news announcement.
It was quite a special feat winning Olympic gold in Sydney in 2000 and with the growth of tennis in our country, we all can have a chance to make Canada proud.
Singles star Milos Raonic, ranked No. 21, and Aleksandra Wozniak, No. 56, will compete for Canada in singles action.
Tennis Canada can nominate up to six men and six women with a maximum of four singles players, two doubles teams and two mixed doubles teams to represent the country at the Olympics.
Following the London Olympic tennis event, scheduled for July 28 to August 5, all four Canadians will compete in Toronto and Montreal at the Rogers Cup from August 4 to 13.
Twitter: @MHStewart
