Federer and Djokovic Want to Carry National Flag at Olympic Opening Ceremony

Written by: Staff on 8th June 2012

Federer and Djokovic Want to Carry National Flag at Olympic Opening Ceremony

epa03255026 Roger Federer of Switzerland serves to Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their semi final match for the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 08 June 2012. EPA/STEPHANE REIX |

Given the numerous amount of honors bestowed upon Novak Djokovic for his tennis exploits in the last year, any other Serbian contender for the post of standard bearer at August’s Olympic Games opening ceremony in London in just 49 days time would have conceded long ago.

So as expected the 25 year-old world no.1 has got the job but far from being complacent, Djokovic still announced his delight. “We are all very excited about the Olympic games in London, such a magnificent sporting event, and it goes without saying what a great honor it is for me to carry the flag for Serbia,” said the player who today faced Roger Federer in the French Open semi-final in his bid to hold all four Grand Slam titles concurrently.

With the appointment, Djokovic has the upper hand over his two great rivals. Rafael Nadal is expected to be given the Spanish flag and Roger Federer the Swiss flag for the third time but as yet both are awaiting official confirmation.

Djokovic took a bronze medal from the last Olympiad in Beijing, losing out to Nadal in the semi-finals before beating James Blake in the 3rd/4th position play off. Together with Nenad Zimonjic, he also contested the men’s doubles but despite being named second seeds, the Serbian pair lost in their opening match to the veteran Czech duo of Martin Damm and Pavel Vizner.

In Beijing only two of the competitive nations named tennis players as their standard bearers with Fernando Gonzalez representing Chile and Federer doing the job for Switzerland after also being given the honor four years previously in Athens.

Federer maintains he’s heard rumors that he will be asked to do the job a third time but said: “I don’t know if I’m going to carry the Swiss flag yet. I haven’t officially heard from them yet. I’d love to do it. No doubt about it. I have done it twice already but it’s a dream come true for me.”

Nadal has long expressed an interest in the job and the Spanish Olympic committee is expected to make an announcement once the current French Open is over. Yachtsmen Iker Martinez and Xavi Fernandez are Nadal’s two main rivals for the honor.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Federer, Novak Djokovic, Olympic tennis news, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Serbian tennis news, Sports, Swiss tennis news