Will the Olympic Gold in mens tennis gain prestige...

GOAT BAAH!!!

Professional
...once Federer wins it...?

It has been deemed as mostly a superfluous achievement...a trifle of a tournament.

Will the GOAT increase it's stature....?
 

SLD76

G.O.A.T.
...once Federer wins it...?

It has been deemed as mostly a superfluous achievement...a trifle of a tournament.

Will the GOAT increase it's stature....?

didnt somebody start a thread about this 3 days ago?

the answer btw was a resounding no.

only rafatards care about olympic gold precisely b/c fed didnt win it.

meanwhile the WTF/YEC are an exhibition, I wonder why?
 

Clarky21

Banned
You know it will. The only reason it has been looked down on is because Nadal won it before Fed. Otherwise,*******s would be crowing non-stop about Fed's Olympic gold medal,and how Nadal is a topspin monkey scrub who will never win one.
 

Sid_Vicious

G.O.A.T.
Nah, the *******s who hyped it up to be equal to Slams will however certainly get trolled by Federer fans. It is the *******s who glorify the Gold medal and then call WTF a useless tournament.

I'm sure WTF won't just be a "glorified exhibition" if Nadal manages to win it.:lol:
 

OddJack

G.O.A.T.
Why Roughfans are so bitter? They used to be humbled after a Rodge win and even send congrat posts.

Maybe its the double rafa out/Rodge win effect.

Be nice guys, it's ok he will be back.
 

kishnabe

Talk Tennis Guru
You know it will. The only reason it has been looked down on is because Nadal won it before Fed. Otherwise,*******s would be crowing non-stop about Fed's Olympic gold medal,and how Nadal is a topspin monkey scrub who will never win one.

I agree with this. ******* camp is doing the same as well. Laughing at Federer for not winning Olympics Singles gold, and DC. While me and the other *******s laught hysterically that Nadal did not win YEC!

If Federer does a singles gold medal....then it worth will increase for Federer **** base while ******* base will decrease their worth for it.
 

zagor

Bionic Poster
right, for sure. I'm wondering if Fed's poo poo smells like roses. anybody?

Actually, the OP is a massive *******.

You know it will. The only reason it has been looked down on is because Nadal won it before Fed. Otherwise,*******s would be crowing non-stop about Fed's Olympic gold medal,and how Nadal is a topspin monkey scrub who will never win one.

No it won't, the reason that tennis Olympics has been looked down upon is:

-Clowns like Massu won it.
-It doesn't have a history in tennis (compared to say slams and YEC)

The only reason Olympics is hyped so much on this forum is because it's one of the few things that Nadal has in his resumee and Fed doesn't so *******s overrated it to high heaven (even equaling it to a slam).

But of course, YEC which has a history of being the most prestigious tournament after the slams (at time it was more important than AO) and potentially carries most points (1500) is a meaningless exo because Saint Rafa hasn't won there yet (he's too "tired" every year).
 

SLD76

G.O.A.T.
Actually, the OP is a massive *******.



No it won't, the reason that tennis Olympics has been looked down upon is:

-Clowns like Massu won it.
-It doesn't have a history in tennis (compared to say slams and YEC)

The only reason Olympics is hyped so much on this forum is because it's one of the few things that Nadal has in his resumee and Fed doesn't so *******s overrated it to high heaven (even equaling it to a slam).

But of course, YEC which has a history of being the most prestigious tournament after the slams (at time it was more important than AO) and potentially carries most points (1500) is a meaningless exo because Saint Rafa hasn't won there yet (he's too "tired" every year).

clarky used to be halfway reasonable but took a turn for the bitter sometime this year.

hell, I dont think *any* pro should be in the olympics at all, in any sport.

I thought it was a joke in 88 when they let pro's play, but so be it.

Imo. olympics should be for juniors, period and amateur only.

I personally hope fed doesnt win, id rather see him win the USO
 

Evan77

Banned
Zagor,
The OP has Fed in his avi, but you probably know better as I don't really pay too much attention who supports whom ...

Here is the thing, I don't like any kind of blind worshiping. I wish we could talk more about tennis instead discussing who makes more money, who has a bigger pee pee etc.

I'm simply getting bored here. too much nonsense. I guess, I've been trying to find my perfect tennis board, but it's not working out so far :).

well, listen to this song, it's good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZN4qLSwS5U&feature=related
 

The-Champ

Legend
Zagor,
The OP has Fed in his avi, but you probably know better as I don't really pay too much attention who supports whom ...

Here is the thing, I don't like any kind of blind worshiping. I wish we could talk more about tennis instead discussing who makes more money, who has a bigger pee pee etc.

I'm simply getting bored here. too much nonsense. I guess, I've been trying to find my perfect tennis board, but it's not working out so far :).

well, listen to this song, it's good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZN4qLSwS5U&feature=related

You actually proposed a brilliant idea Evan77 in another thread, that since Federer has the biggest fanbase, they should create a separate forum where all his fans can discuss anything about him.
 

Sentinel

Bionic Poster
clarky used to be halfway reasonable but took a turn for the bitter sometime this year.
Just what I was thinking. She was funny and reasonable as long as Rafa was winning RG, MC etc. The moment Roger won a slam a dramatic change happened. *sad*

right, for sure. I'm wondering if Fed's poo poo smells like roses. anybody?
Yeah, just like Nadal's fingers. Red roses.:shock:
 

bluetrain4

G.O.A.T.
I think it's inevitable. The longer it is an Olympic sport, the more prestigious it will become. It's increasingly talked about as a prestigious achievement, the players generally seem to want it more, the press talks about it more, etc. Plus, the overall fields are getting better.

The only way it doesn't continue to become more prestigious is if a core of players suddenly lose interest and a substantial amount of top players are missing.
 

merlinpinpin

Hall of Fame
Actually, the olympics would probably *lose* prestige on these boards should Federer win gold in singles. Cause let's be franck, what prestige it has was hyped to high heaven by the *************, just because Federer didn't have it (they even chose to "believe" that different olympic golds have different values, which is of course silly). Now, should Federer win and end up with more gold medals than Nadal, the value of the olympics will plumet for the people hyping it on the forum, and it's liable to turn overnight from a "3,000-point event" (ask DRII) to a "meaningless exo ala YEC".

As for "cementing" the place of tennis at the olympics, yeah, it would probably be good if Federer won it (higher visibility, and proof that all-time greats actually care about the event), although the best possible ending to the tournament visibility-wise (ie Federer beating Nadal in the final) is already a no-go, because of (A) Nadal's knees, or (B) the more stringent anti-doping testing at the olpympics (take your, ahem, pick).
 
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prosealster

Professional
olympic was once so insignificant that GOAT candidate Sampras chose to skip it....however this all changed when Rafa won it...it's now more prestigous than the slams..
 

Gizo

Hall of Fame
I've always thought the idea of judging a tournament's prestige just by looking at its list of champions, has been very silly. It is much better to look at overall fields/draws instead.

For instance before Nadal's success in 2008, some people were using the fact that Massu won the gold medal in 2004 to argue that the Athens tournament was low key and unimportant. However the two best players in the world at the time Federer and Roddick were both in the draw at the time and taking the tournament seriously, despite both losing early.
 

MariaRafael

Banned
olympic was once so insignificant that GOAT candidate Sampras chose to skip it....however this all changed when Rafa won it...it's now more prestigous than the slams..

Of course, Rafa changes the universe. Let's wait till the end of the Olympic tournament, clap to Feddy's bronze medal and see what will be going on here. We'll definitely have some posts explaining us that the Olympic bronze medal is much bigger than the gold because copper is more expensive and elegant.
 

Zarfot Z

Professional
You actually proposed a brilliant idea Evan77 in another thread, that since Federer has the biggest fanbase, they should create a separate forum where all his fans can discuss anything about him.

Futile idea. We all know you would just click on the sub forum, as you have on this thread.
 
Of course, Rafa changes the universe. Let's wait till the end of the Olympic tournament, clap to Feddy's bronze medal and see what will be going on here. We'll definitely have some posts explaining us that the Olympic bronze medal is much bigger than the gold because copper is more expensive and elegant.

Barcelona beats them all. Check your ****.
 
D

Deleted member 21996

Guest
Zagor,
The OP has Fed in his avi, but you probably know better as I don't really pay too much attention who supports whom ...

Here is the thing, I don't like any kind of blind worshiping. I wish we could talk more about tennis instead discussing who makes more money, who has a bigger pee pee etc.

I'm simply getting bored here. too much nonsense. I guess, I've been trying to find my perfect tennis board, but it's not working out so far :).

well, listen to this song, it's good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZN4qLSwS5U&feature=related


this is just two of the previous pearls by goatbahh before he opted for this "Cynical New Found *******" posture...


It's a shame that Federer had to cheat and hit the ball inside the court to have any leverage over Blake.

Mark my words....

Come US Open James will have ironed out all the kinks in his game and will make a blistering campaign for the title.

Potito Starace is his only true rival on hard courts anyway so we might as well hand Blake the chip now.

I think it is comparable in prestige to either Zagreb, Delray Beach or Estoril...

pretty easy to see he is just another one of those "peacefull" non-nastiness Nadal fans....
 
D

Deleted member 21996

Guest
Of course, Rafa changes the universe. Let's wait till the end of the Olympic tournament, clap to Feddy's bronze medal and see what will be going on here. We'll definitely have some posts explaining us that the Olympic bronze medal is much bigger than the gold because copper is more expensive and elegant.

nahh.. that speech is common among San Rafael's camp where Olympics is bigger than slams....
 
pretty easy to see he is just another one of those "peacefull" non-nastiness Nadal fans....

That cracks me up.

The non-agressive, peaceful, not bothered by ****s, holding the higher ground, victimized, viciously assaulted by the evil *******s, original and unique (you know, just like their idol :roll:, although they show all signs of the opposite), enchanted by the beauty of the game :roll: fans from the ************* and Co.
 

DRII

G.O.A.T.
Actually, the olympics would probably *lose* prestige on these boards should Federer win gold in singles. Cause let's be franck, what prestige it has was hyped to high heaven by the *************, just because Federer didn't have it (they even chose to "believe" that different olympic golds have different values, which is of course silly). Now, should Federer win and end up with more gold medals than Nadal, the value of the olympics will plumet for the people hyping it on the forum, and it's liable to turn overnight from a "3,000-point event" (ask DRII) to a "meaningless exo ala YEC".

As for "cementing" the place of tennis at the olympics, yeah, it would probably be good if Federer won it (higher visibility, and proof that all-time greats actually care about the event), although the best possible ending to the tournament visibility-wise (ie Federer beating Nadal in the final) is already a no-go, because of (A) Nadal's knees, or (B) the more stringent anti-doping testing at the olpympics (take your, ahem, pick).



Cynical and delusional as usual...
 

Towser83

G.O.A.T.
Wouldn't it be funny if some also ran player won the Olympics again? That would not make it look too good :lol:

I kidd...
 

Leto

Semi-Pro
It's blatantly obvious that the Olympics has gained prestige with each iteration, particularly spurred on by the awarding of points, which I think have increased a bit over time.

When there was no points, there was little player interest. Now there are some points, that still fall way short of a Slam or WTF, and even below a Masters.

But the fact that there are at least SOME points involved, a lot more high profile players are willing to spend their time, and all of a sudden, talk about the Olympic dream, supporting their nation, etc. etc. ad nauseum.

It still doesn't matter though, because the increased prestige is primarily based on factors that are not really tennis-specific, so it's not the type of prestige that translates into the same kind of significance when strictly looking at a tennis player's career.

Watching the opening ceremonies as we speak, I can appreciate the spectacle and (near embarrasing) circus atmoshpere, but none of it even remotely makes me think of tennis (or any other sport for that matter), in any way shape or form.

The day that "real" Wimbledon has to start hiring Paul McCartney to sing "Hey Jude" to kickoff of the tournament, is the day that tennis will have hit rock bottom :)
 

ubermeyer

Hall of Fame
I think it's always been prestigious (at least since they stopped the amateur-only rule). An olympic gold medal in anything is nothing to sneeze at.
 

prosealster

Professional
I've always thought the idea of judging a tournament's prestige just by looking at its list of champions, has been very silly. It is much better to look at overall fields/draws instead.

For instance before Nadal's success in 2008, some people were using the fact that Massu won the gold medal in 2004 to argue that the Athens tournament was low key and unimportant. However the two best players in the world at the time Federer and Roddick were both in the draw at the time and taking the tournament seriously, despite both losing early.

I think the difficulty in winning a tournment goes beyond simply who is in the draw, as the top players train themselves to peak during the most important tournments. I'd say although fed would love to win the gold, he would've planned to peak at the 4 big ones this year
 

tudwell

G.O.A.T.
Only ridiculous Nadal-****s think the Olympics are worth as much as a slam or even as much as the WTF. That won't change if Federer wins it. However, it is a prestigious event, especially since now it draws all the top pros and offers prize money.
 

Evan77

Banned
Only ridiculous Nadal-****s think the Olympics are worth as much as a slam or even as much as the WTF. That won't change if Federer wins it. However, it is a prestigious event, especially since now it draws all the top pros and offers prize money.
what prize money? this is news to me. :shock:
 

GOAT BAAH!!!

Professional
One match away from shedding it's former image as tawdry and worthless resume padding and quadrennial distraction from real tennis.

Allez Rogi
 

NamRanger

G.O.A.T.
It's a resume booster but nothing more. It's still not even as prestigious as winning something like Monte Carlo or Miami.
 

NamRanger

G.O.A.T.
Lol Monte Carlo, that clay "masters" that isn't even mandatory. Oooh the prestige.



Monte Carlo is still worth more points and has far more history than the Olympics. The Olympics for a time didn't even give you points, and a vast majority of players skipped it (including but not limited to Hewitt, Sampras, Roddick, among various other top players). The only reason why anyone even plays is because they want to, not because they have to or because it is even worth anything other than bonus points with your home country.

For example, Nadal's winning streak at Monte Carlo is both more impressive and more prestigious than winning the gold at the Olympics, yet ignorant Nadal fans will want to keep pressing the Olympic Gold into Fed fans' faces for some odd reason (even though it is pretty blatant it doesn't have any sort of prestige). It would be much more logical for Nadal fans to press the Monte Carlo and Rome titles in the face of Federer, at least those have point value and prestige value to them.
 

The Bawss

Banned
Monte Carlo is still worth more points and has far more history than the Olympics. The Olympics for a time didn't even give you points, and a vast majority of players skipped it (including but not limited to Hewitt, Sampras, Roddick, among various other top players). The only reason why anyone even plays is because they want to, not because they have to or because it is even worth anything other than bonus points with your home country.

For example, Nadal's winning streak at Monte Carlo is both more impressive and more prestigious than winning the gold at the Olympics, yet ignorant Nadal fans will want to keep pressing the Olympic Gold into Fed fans' faces for some odd reason (even though it is pretty blatant it doesn't have any sort of prestige). It would be much more logical for Nadal fans to press the Monte Carlo and Rome titles in the face of Federer, at least those have point value and prestige value to them.

I agree that the olympics are a joke in terms of prestige, except for Agassi and Nadal only total mugs have won it.
 

cknobman

Legend
Regardless of who wins the Olympics its really hard to consider it a factor when comparing greats or determining ones "greatness".

Tennis was not part of the Olympics for so many years and there are just too many all time great tennis players that never even had a chance to participate in order to add this tournament to their resume.
 

tennis_pro

Bionic Poster
Of course, Rafa changes the universe. Let's wait till the end of the Olympic tournament, clap to Feddy's bronze medal and see what will be going on here. We'll definitely have some posts explaining us that the Olympic bronze medal is much bigger than the gold because copper is more expensive and elegant.

Great prediction, girl.
 

dysonlu

Professional
It's like any other one-week tournament. It's great to win it for his country and add to Roger's collection but it's nothing compared to a GS.

Oh and by the way, a god doesn't poo poo :lol:
 
The prestige will increase if Federer wins it. Top players now care about the event and if they can claim that Federer, Nadal and Agassi (three of the Open era's most successful players) are Olympic champions, then the likes of Rosset and Massu can be glossed over. If the top players continue to care about the Olympics then its prestige in tennis will continue to grow. If in 4 years, Djokovic or Murray (if he has multiple Majors) or some new top player wins, then that enhances its prestige again. Of course there is a still an element of fortune to it, in terms of your form at the time. If 2011 was an Olympic year, it would have been very surprising to not have seen Novak win it.

Similar to how the prestige of the Australian Open increased in the 80's when all the top players started competing for it.

Will it ever be at the level of a Major? No.
 
Will it ever be at the level of a Major? No.

I agree with your post completely, but I wanted to comment on this last part. It won't ever be the same because it is only every 4 years. It's timing is unfortunate too, but on the assumption that the best in the world compete for the singles again in 4 years time it will matter nearly as much as the Slams.
 
The prestige will increase if Federer wins it. Top players now care about the event and if they can claim that Federer, Nadal and Agassi (three of the Open era's most successful players) are Olympic champions, then the likes of Rosset and Massu can be glossed over. If the top players continue to care about the Olympics then its prestige in tennis will continue to grow. If in 4 years, Djokovic or Murray (if he has multiple Majors) or some new top player wins, then that enhances its prestige again. Of course there is a still an element of fortune to it, in terms of your form at the time. If 2011 was an Olympic year, it would have been very surprising to not have seen Novak win it.

Similar to how the prestige of the Australian Open increased in the 80's when all the top players started competing for it.

Will it ever be at the level of a Major? No.

Pretty much this.
Add in the fact that these Olympics were played at Wimbledon. If Brazil decide to use clay and have Guga present the gold, then that would make it jump again. However, ultimately for me it will sit behind the Masters. Slams, WTF and the Olympics 6th biggest tournament.

For me the top players not playing the Australian Open in the late 70s early 80s was stupid. Forgetting that it was a slam, forgetting that you needed to win it to complete your grand slam, forgetting that travel would only improve in time; there was always likely going to be another great Australian. As soon as a a current Wimbledon/US champion busted his gut to win the Aussie slam it changes everything.
 

OrangePower

Legend
^^^^^

Good post. One measure of how prestigious an event is, is by looking at past winners - the more accomplished they are, the more it lends to the event's prestige.

Right now it's hard to say Olympic champion is a title reserved for the very best, because there have been just as many mediocre players who have won as there have been greats winning.

But if Fed wins this year, and then say Djokovic in 2016, and so on, and in 20 years time the likes of Rosset / Mecir / Massu are the exception, then it will be viewed as more prestigious.
 

kragster

Hall of Fame
The prestige will increase if Federer wins it. Top players now care about the event and if they can claim that Federer, Nadal and Agassi (three of the Open era's most successful players) are Olympic champions, then the likes of Rosset and Massu can be glossed over. If the top players continue to care about the Olympics then its prestige in tennis will continue to grow. If in 4 years, Djokovic or Murray (if he has multiple Majors) or some new top player wins, then that enhances its prestige again. Of course there is a still an element of fortune to it, in terms of your form at the time. If 2011 was an Olympic year, it would have been very surprising to not have seen Novak win it.

Similar to how the prestige of the Australian Open increased in the 80's when all the top players started competing for it.

Will it ever be at the level of a Major? No.

I think as long as it is worth 750 it will never have slam level status but IF and only IF points are raised to 2k, I can easily see it have slam status, similar to how the AO now is considered an equal.However given this is a once every 4 yrs event, I highly doubt the ATP would increase points that much.

At present I consider the Olympics to be just slightly higher than the level of a Masters 1000. (I'm pretty sure almost every player would choose an OG gold over a win at Rome/Cincy/Toronto etc and I don't think any player would choose an OG gold over a slam win).
 

NamRanger

G.O.A.T.
I think as long as it is worth 750 it will never have slam level status but IF and only IF points are raised to 2k, I can easily see it have slam status, similar to how the AO now is considered an equal.However given this is a once every 4 yrs event, I highly doubt the ATP would increase points that much.

At present I consider the Olympics to be just slightly higher than the level of a Masters 1000. (I'm pretty sure almost every player would choose an OG gold over a win at Rome/Cincy/Toronto etc and I don't think any player would choose an OG gold over a slam win).



Miami, the YEC, among various other 1000 level tournaments are more prestigious than the Olympic Gold currently. You may view them as lower, but a vast majority of players would much rather win a major title such as Miami over winning the Olympic Gold (unless you are an ultra nationalist).
 

Bartelby

Bionic Poster
The no tie break final set and the five set final place it above Masters events in terms of sheer difficulty
 

NamRanger

G.O.A.T.
The no tie break final set and the five set final place it above Masters events in terms of sheer difficulty


The fact that top players routinely skip the Olympics demonstrates that it isn't anywhere close to as difficult to winning as a Masters (or as prestigious). Some people believe that doing the double of Toronto/Cincinnati or IW/Miami is the hardest thing to do in Tennis, because you have to play back to back weeks with almost no rest, against the best players in the world from round 2 (not like the slams where you get a bunch of mugs the first 3 rounds if you are a top player).


And let's not even talk about the YEC which is infinitely harder to win than the Olympics, and in certain years probably harder to win than a slam by virtue of having to play against the very best in the world (the YECs during the early 90s for example were stacked from top to bottom and were extremely difficult to beat, not to mention in the late 70s/80s).
 

Talker

Hall of Fame
I never thought too much of olympic tennis.

Until I saw the emotions and the 100% effort of the players today.

It won't push the olympics up too much for career importance but those SF matches I saw today had me watching every point.
Some of the best matches of the year.
 

zam88

Professional
Miami, the YEC, among various other 1000 level tournaments are more prestigious than the Olympic Gold currently. You may view them as lower, but a vast majority of players would much rather win a major title such as Miami over winning the Olympic Gold (unless you are an ultra nationalist).



simply because of the money involved, i agree.


The olympics should be at a minimum on par with a masters 1000... it should be 1000 points.


I could even buy into it being a 1250 or 1500

I think that if money weren't part of the equation that any player would rather have a gold medal to look back on 20 years after they are gone from teh sport than a random masters 1000 tournament that everyone has forgotten about and that may no longer exist.
 

drakulie

Talk Tennis Guru
...once Federer wins it...?

I wouldn't be so confident that he's a lock to win it. And NO, it won't gain anymore prestige IF he wins it. It will stay the same as it has been.

On another note, I want Murray to take it. Would be great to see him win it in front of the home crowd, and in the most prestigious stage in the history of the game.
 
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