Huber and Raymond eye gold

 

Originally published on: 02/08/12 00:00

The American duo face Czech pair Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka on Friday for a place in the final – and a guaranteed medal – as they bid to add to their glittering list of accomplishments.

“I think Liezel and I have pretty much achieved really everything there is to achieve on the doubles court and we still want to achieve a lot more, that’s why we’re still out here,” 38-year-old Raymond told tennishead.

“But a doubles medal, especially a gold medal, would certainly look nice in both our trophy cabinets, put it that way.”

The reigning US Open champions won four straight titles earlier this year, in Paris, Doha, Dubai and Indian Wells, but their fortunes have wavered at the season's Grand Slams. They lost in the first round at Roland Garros then at Wimbledon fell to Serena and Venus Williams in three sets in the semi-finals. They could have another shot at the sisters in the Olympic final, should they make it through and the double Olympic champions safely negotiate Russian’s Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova.

Huber and Raymond, however, have gone all the way at Wimbledon before – Raymond with Rennae Stubbs in 2001 and Huber with Cara Black in 2005 and 2007 – and believe they are capable of winning at London 2012.

“We’re used to the surface,” said Huber. "We like the environment. I think this [event] is so special for everybody that I can’t think of another one that could replicate this. This is a tennis player’s dream this Olympics.”

Should they triumph, would it rank as their best achievement?

“Certainly up there,” said Raymond. “Without question. Definitely.”

Now get the WORLD’S BEST TENNIS MAGAZINE here