OSAKA: World No 3 Gabriela Sabatini of Argentina said that she was still hoping to take part in the Olympics although she had been ruled out by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
For me I think it is a little unfair the Argentine said after beating Katerina Maleceva of Bulgaria 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 to retain the $250000 Gunze World Tennis Tournament here.
If the federation of your country doesn’t want you to play I mean if they don’t want me to play for the (federation) Cup that means i cannot play in the Olympics Sabatini said. So i think it’s a little unfair.
An ITF spokesman confirmed that Sabatini and Martina Navratilova appear to have ruled themselves out of the chance of being nominated for the Olympic Games
The Olympic rules state a player must be in good standing with the national association and the ITF. The criterion for being in good standing includes the provision that a player should make herself available for the Federation Cup 1991.
The cup which is the world team championship is to be played on hard courts (July 22-28): in the historic city of Nottingham England.
Sabatini has not represented Argentina since 1987 but cited the pressures of her pending U.S. Open Championship defence.
It’s not that i am not interested in playing in the Olympics said the 21-yr-old Argentine.
This is a very good time a very important time in my tennis career and I wanted to have a good rest physically and mentally. But to play in the Federation Cup. I have to go away from my home for a few months she said.
That’s why I’m not going to play for the cup. But of course I want to play in the Olympics added Sabatini.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 2, 1991
