Olympics-Tennis-Huber determined to repay U.S. with gold

By Martyn Herman

BEIJING, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Doubles specialist Liezel Huber wants to repay her adopted country with an Olympic tennis gold.

The Durban-born 31-year-old, sworn in as an American citizen last year, represented South Africa at the Sydney Games in 2000 but on Tuesday played her first Olympic match for the U.S. when she partnered Lindsay Davenport.

"I'm honoured that the U.S. have adopted me and they can't kick me out," Huber told reporters after a 6-2 6-1 victory against Polish pair Klaudia Jans and Alisja Rosolska.

"I played Fed Cup (for the U.S.) and that was extremely emotional, that was as important a moment for me," she said.

"Today, I think I was calm, not so nervous. It's been a long time coming. I didn't want to be too emotional today because the day before the opening ceremony I cried all the time.

"Obviously if I get on the podium I will be the most goosebumped one up there."

Huber, who has lived in the U.S. since she was a teenager, is no ordinary doubles player. She is ranked number one in the world in the discipline and has three grand slam titles to her name.

"Given the opportunity to play for the U.S., given the opportunity to play with Lindsay, that's a dream," she said.

"One of Lindsay's main goals when she came back was to play the Olympics and now I have the opportunity to play with her and help to make her dreams come true as well."

Former Olympic champion Davenport came out of retirement last year to compete in Beijing. She has been struggling with a knee injury and withdrew from the singles before it started. Huber marched with the U.S. team at the opening ceremony behind Sudanese-born flag-bearer Lopez Lomong.

"That was amazing, I spoke to my husband about it," said Huber, who once set up a foundation to raise money for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

"I think I was as honoured as he was and I wasn't even carrying the flag. I mean what an honour for us to be part of the U.S. team. That is the principle of the country."

Huber and Davenport are predicting an all-American doubles final against Serena and Venus Williams. "We are expecting a gold in the singles, and we're wishing for a match against the Williams sisters in the final." (Editing by Keith Weir)