Local Tennis Olympian Heads to London Summer Games

Upper Providence Township's newest (and possibly only) tennis star has set her sights on Olympic gold as she heads to the 2012 London Summer Games.

Lisa Raymond, who recently purchased a home in Upper Providence, will compete in the doubles competition with her partner Liezel Huber, of Houston.

Raymond, who grew up in Wayne and attended Notre Dame Academy, has been playing tennis since she was 7 years old but has only been playing with Huber for a little more than a year, she said.

"Players just kind of come together and it was the right time for both of us," Raymond, 38, says.

According to www.wtatennis.com, Raymond has 78 titles, including six Grand Slams and four Woman's Tennis Association (WTA) Championships.

London will be Raymond's second Olympic experience as she and Martina Navratilova lost in the quarterfinals at the 2004 Athens Games.

Currently, Raymond and Huber are ranked No. 1 in the world, both as a team and individually, and the U.S. Tennis Team has a good shot at a medal, she says.

The gold medal team will have to win five consecutive matches to reach that top podium spot.

"It's very exciting," Raymond says, "I'm very much looking forward to it."

Venus and Serena Williams are also competing at the Olympics as both a doubles team and individuals. The Williams sisters took home gold in doubles in both the 2000 and 2008 games.

Raymond says along with the Williams sister, the Italians, who are currently ranked No. 2, are expected to be tough teams to beat.

"They are all going to be difficult," she says. "There are a lot of great teams that teamed up because of the Olympics so it's going to be tough."

Before heading to London next week, Raymond and Huber are currently playing in a tournament in California, which doesn't seem to phase Raymond or stress her out.

"It's just an event we play in every year," she says.

The pair practice about two hours a day on the court, Raymond says, and then each have their own fitness routines for strength and endurance training.

Raymond wasn't yet sure if she would walk in the Opening or Closing Olympic Ceremonies since they have not received their match schedule yet. But she walked at the Athens Games so she says she wouldn't be greatly disappointed if she missed the ceremonies.

The Olympic matches will be played at Wimbledon, home of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, where the court surface is grass. The 32 doubles teams will compete in single-elimination tournaments over nine days.

Wimbledon began its transformation into the Olympic venue just 18 days before the first match is played on July 28, according to nbcolympics.com.

Check out the attached YouTube video of an interview Raymond did during the 2012 Australian Open where she says winning keeps her motivated. Follow her on Twitter @lisaraymond73.