France’s top-ranked player Marion Bartoli won’t be participating at the 2012 Olympics since she will not be chosen by the French Tennis Federation.
According to reports, France’s Sports Minister David Douillet said that exception won’t be made for Bartoli, who has not participated in Fed Cup play since 2004. As per ITF rules, a player can’t be eligible for Olympics if she won’t make herself available for Fed Cup competition twice during the two years prior to the scheduled Olympic Games.
The French Tennis Federation has not allowed private coaching during Fed Cup competition, a ruling that Bartoli refused to follow since she wants her father, her official coach, to be there as well.
Bartoli’s participation at the Olympics is deemed significant considering that the competition will take place at the grasscourts in Wimbledon. She was a finalist at the grasscourt Slam in 2007, losing to Venus Williams.
