Winning the 2007 US Open would mean more to Roger Federer than $2.4 million in prize money. It also means valuable rankings points, and points gained during the 12 months leading up to June 9, 2008, will help determine whether a player receives an Olympic invitation. In other words, the 2007 US Open counts toward Beijing qualifying.

In addition to a qualifying ranking, an athlete must have been willing to play Davis Cup or Fed Cup for at least two years between 2005 and 2008 – one of which must be either 2007 or 2008.

Even if Federer becomes injured it is unlikely to significantly affect his standing, but those circumstances haven't been officially addressed yet, because the sport's governing body, the ITF, and the ATP men's tour have yet to agree on the Olympic qualifying criteria.

It is much clearer on the women's side. The ITF and the WTA agreed that the tour rankings would determine the top 56 entries of the 64-player singles draw. (The draw's final eight will be determined closer to the event.) Up to four women per nation may play singles, and two doubles teams per nation may compete. Since the maximum quota per nation is six women, if the US sends two women who specializes in doubles, its second doubles team would have to come from its singles players, as was the case in 2000 with Venus and Serena Williams, where Venus won gold in both singles and doubles.

As for the 1996 Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Davenport, who has already missed three months of qualifying due to pregnancy and motherhood, she could rely on a “special ranking” as long as she returns within 12 months of having her baby. (Her son, Jagger, was born June 10, 2007). Her ranking was No. 12 when she last played in a single draw – coincidentally, in Beijing, Sept. 24, 2006.

The 2008 Olympic tennis event will have a few other things in common with the 2007 US Open: the same hard court surface (DecoTurf II), Hawk-Eye technology, and – for the first time at an Olympics – players may use a challenge system to dispute a line call.

The tennis "test event" will be held in Beijing on Oct. 8 this year. The Olympic tournament will be contested over eight days (Aug. 10-Aug. 17, 2008), and the 2008 US Open will begin eight days later.

Eight is a lucky number in China. Will it be lucky for Federer whose birthday, Aug. 8 (8-8) is the same day as the 2008 Olympics Opening Cermoney?