Olympic invitation for Sanchez-Vicario

Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario is aiming for a fifth Olympic medal after the International Tennis Federation gave her a special invitation to participate in the Athens Games.

The former French Open champion, who quit the women’s circuit at the end of 2002, will play in the women’s doubles where she will be partnered by Anabel Medina.

It will be Sanchez-Vicario’s fifth Olympic appearance and she will be hoping to add to the two silver and two bronze medals she has already accumulated.

Although she has played no competitive tennis since announcing her retirement, Sanchez-Vicario has been in training for several months with the Olympics in mind.

“I am very happy, because I want to participate and I really want to do well there,” she said.

Sanchez-Vicario also has one further ambition – to carry the Spanish flag in the opening ceremony.

“I hope my other dream of carrying the flag also comes true: anyone would like to carry their country’s flag,” she added, “but that depends on the Olympic Committee.”