Nadal, Sharapova and Djokovic Set to Lead Their Nations Into the 2012 London Olympic Games
June 20, 2012 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Spain’s Olympic Committee (COE) has said that gold medalist and world number two-ranked Rafael Nadal will carry the nation’s flag at the opening ceremony for the 2012 London Games on July 27. Nadal recently won a record seventh French Open title at Roland Garros and has won 11 Grand Slam tournaments. Nadal competed in the doubles at the Athens Olympics in 2004 and won the singles gold medal in 2008. London’s 2012 Olympic Games marks Nadal’s third Olympic event.
Also bearing his nation’s flag will be world number one-ranked Novak Djokovic when he leads the nation of Serbia into the 2012 Olympics.
Djokovic and Nadal will also be joined by Maria Sharapova who will become the first-ever woman to bear the Russian flag at the London Games. Sharapova recently won the 2012 Women’s Singles Championship at the French Open.
“I am so honored, and especially excited as it will be my first Olympics in my career,” said Sharapova on her Facebook page of the honor of leading her nation in the Opening Ceremony. “I have had to keep this hush-hush for two weeks and keeping secrets is not my best quality!”
