BEIJING, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Croatia suffered a major blow in the upcoming Olympic tennis event as their 25-ranked and Athens men's doubles bronze medalist Mario Ancic will not come to play in Beijing, a top tennis official told Xinhua on Tuesday.

"Mario is ill, so he will be missing from the Beijing event," said Marina Mihelic, executive director of the Croatian Tennis Association and the tennis team leader in Beijing as well.

"But it will not affect other players, we still have a strong team in the Olympics and they are ready."

Ancic and Ivan Ljubicic claimed the bronze medal in Athens four years ago after beating Indians Mahesh Bhupathi/Leander Paes in the bronze medal playoff. The Croatian duo lost to Chilean Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu, the eventual winners of the event.

Marin Cilic, ranked 32nd in the world, will replace Ancic to partner Ljubicic in men's doubles in Beijing, Mihelic confirmed.

"Every team comes here to fight for the gold medal, they are expected to do their best. Our team won many bronze medals before, and this time I am sure that we will do better and it is possible. Our players will fight every point," she added.

The Croatia will also have chance of chasing after the men's singles medals, with the giant Ivo Karlovic (18th) and former world top ten Ljubicic (51st) lurking around.

"The weather condition is grueling because of the humidity and heat, but it is equal to everybody, we will try to do our best," Mihelic said.

The Olympic tennis event will be held between Aug. 10-17.