Bad Look For Olympics. Alcaraz First Round Opponent: #300 Hady Habib From Lebanon.

travlerajm said:
There is a second player listed as playing for Lebanon (Benjamin Hassan). But the ATP site had him as playing for Germany (his country of birth) through June 2024. He conveniently switched countries this month.
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Hassan is a 29-year-old player that was born in Germany and trained in Germany and has failed to ever qualify for a 128-player draw Grand Slam and will likely never qualify for a Grand Slam.
Yet he somehow qualifies for a 64-player Olympic draw. Not even clear how Lebanon gets picked from hundreds of other countries.

These players wish to represent their country of heritage. We get it. But it is obviously a ploy to enter an event that they would otherwise never qualify for as a German or American citizen.

It would at least be nice if they were at least trained in Lebanon; have more of a tennis connection. But Lebanon tennis program has produced 0 players in the ATP 500.
Isn't that the spirit of the Olympics? The athletes are a product of their countries tennis programs?
Calling them "players from Lebanon" is a stretch.
:unsure:
 
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It’s very cool the way the Olympics has a unique qualification format.

For one special moment in their career the chance arrives for a player from a smaller tennis nation to come from the clouds and win something that gives them sporting immortality.

In some Olympic sports the Nation-filtered qualification process creates comical moments. I don’t think anyone will forget Eric “The Eel” Moussambani who used the Olympics qualification loophole to swim an Olympic heat race representing Equatorial Guinea. He should absolutely not have been on the Olympic stage, and his heat swim was one of the worst / slowest ever.

But more often it’s the case that this unique opportunity inspires people to greatness and we see people absolutely smash their personal bests when given the chance to represent their country on the worlds biggest athletic and sporting stage.
 
Better_Call_Raul said:
In a Grand Slam you are guaranteed a quality opponent ranked in the Top 128. At worst, an up and coming young wild card.
Here we have Habib from Lebanon. Ranked #300.
:rolleyes:
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You're guaranteed an opponent in the top 256 since the 128-256 ranked players play in the qualifiers. So #300 is slightly below that which I understand but not as drastic as you've painted it.
 
Subway Tennis said:
It’s very cool the way the Olympics has a unique qualification format........
But more often it’s the case that this unique opportunity inspires people to greatness and we see people absolutely smash their personal bests when given the chance to represent their country on the worlds biggest athletic and sporting stage.
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Good perspective, man. Waiting to see who works magic this time ... hope the tennis inspires.
 
tsp_207 said:
You're guaranteed an opponent in the top 256 since the 128-256 ranked players play in the qualifiers. So #300 is slightly below that which I understand but not as drastic as you've painted it.
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Wimbledon has a 128-player draw. 104 players gain direct entry based on their ATP rankings which will be ~Top 100.
Those are 104 quality opponents.

That leaves 24 players.
8 players receive wild card entries. Do NOT agree with wild cards but the general idea is that your opponent will be some promising local tough young player.
Or some injured ex-champion.

16 other players qualify by having to win 3 rounds. If your opponent has won 3 rounds, he is likely about to break into Top 128.
Sample of 2024 Wimbledon qualifiers:
  1. Hugo Gaston - Ranked 81 .
  2. Zizou Bergs - Ranked 163 .
  3. Lloyd Harris - Ranked 95 .
  4. Cristian Garín - Ranked 120 .
  5. Vít Kopřiva - Ranked 103 .
  6. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard - Ranked 153

In summary, 90%+ of the 128-player Wimbledon draw will be quality players ranked in the Top 150.

Finally, the Olympics is a much smaller 64-player draw. It is problematic to have a #300 player in a 64-player international draw.

Also keep in mind that these players from Lebanon have never qualified for a Slam. Have never even one a single Q match for a Slam.
These Lebanon players will never qualify to even play in a Slam. Or even win a Q match. That is the reality.
 
The way people want to downplay the Olympics and Olympic Gold is hilarious.

Kids around the world dream of winning Olympic Gold from any sport, it's the pinnacle of sport in hundreds of countries. It's laughable how you want to downplay this.

I remember the treasure of watching the Sydney Olympic events in 2000 and again in Athens. All the way through for Beijing, London, Rio and Tokyo. To see all the amazing achievements, it['s like nothing else.

The Olympics is the peak of sport. Quit downplaying it.
 
How is it any different from Raducanu or Norrie playing for England, or Rybakina playing for Kazakhstan?

Lebanon is a small country with 3 million people at home and over 12 million in the diaspora. In Brazil alone, there are over 7 million, including WTA player Haddad Maya. It’s just a symbolic participation since those players probably won’t make it past the first round, but it’s a feel good thing. Don’t be so narrow minded.
 
Subway Tennis said:
It’s very cool the way the Olympics has a unique qualification format.

For one special moment in their career the chance arrives for a player from a smaller tennis nation to come from the clouds and win something that gives them sporting immortality.

In some Olympic sports the Nation-filtered qualification process creates comical moments. I don’t think anyone will forget Eric “The Eel” Moussambani who used the Olympics qualification loophole to swim an Olympic heat race representing Equatorial Guinea. He should absolutely not have been on the Olympic stage, and his heat swim was one of the worst / slowest ever.

But more often it’s the case that this unique opportunity inspires people to greatness and we see people absolutely smash their personal bests when given the chance to represent their country on the worlds biggest athletic and sporting stage.
Click to expand...
I still remember Jamaica bobsleigh team and Thailand alpine skiing team. You can say of course they were a joke, and they probably were, but it’s a dream for those athletes to compete at the Olympics regardless of the results.
 
Arak said:
I still remember Jamaica bobsleigh team and Thailand alpine skiing team. You can say of course they were a joke, and they probably were, but it’s a dream for those athletes to compete at the Olympics regardless of the results.
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Yah, man. There was also Eddie 'the Eagle' representing GB in ski-jumping in 1988 winter Olympics. Became the butt of jokes in the media, but seemed to enjoy his participation. Nice stories about human endeavour, but inspiration for me comes from those that go beyond expectations and raise the bar.
 
Tallawah Tennis said:
Yah, man. There was also Eddie 'the Eagle' representing GB in ski-jumping in 1988 winter Olympics. Became the butt of jokes in the media, but seemed to enjoy his participation. Nice stories about human endeavour, but inspiration for me comes from those that go beyond expectations and raise the bar.
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They even made a movie about him.
 
travlerajm said:
One way to look at it is that the Olympics gives out wildcards to anyone with parents from tiny countries.
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Heh, heh. Size matters.


Arak said:
........... Don’t be so narrow minded.
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Man, you talking extinction for this noble forum! Narrow minded / sucking sourest lemons is often the life blood here.
Feel-good factor, celebrating excellence via healthy competition for personal and national glory makes it prime facie attractive. Big heart needed to let others enjoy the feel good factor too. That's probably too much to ask where pettiness thrives.
 
Tano said:
Hypocrisy is the order of the day depending on which side you are on.
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Wimbledon hands out 8 wild cards from a field of 128 . All 8 were GBR players:
Liam Broady, Jan Choinski, Arthur Fery(Stanford), Billy Harris, Paul Jubb(South Carolina), Jake Fearnley(TCU) and Henry Searle.

"Fearnley's title at last week's Challenger in Nottingham no doubt led to his inclusion in the main draw; Charlie Broom(Dartmouth, Baylor), who lost to Fearnley in the final, was awarded a qualifying wild card. "

It is what it is but we believe that Wimbledon wild cards needs to be abolished so there is no hypocrisy here.

There is no comparison to the Olympics inclusion of a #300 to a field of 64.
A "Lebanon" player that has never even won a Challenger.

KingCarlitos said:
how many games does he take off Alcaraz?
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Do not see why anyone would bother watching this match. It will be an absolute bloodbath.
 
Comparing the Olympics to a slam is apples to oranges. The Olympics have much poorer draws, pay nothing, and grant no ATP points. They're the icing to a career, not the cake for any pro tennis player. Sure, Andy Murray equates them to slams because it makes him look better, but no rational person would actually say so. Don't believe me? Just look at how many top players sit the Olympics out. Also, Djokovic may claim they're of the utmost importance to him, but that can't be true. He went after the slam record relentlessly and only now is working towards the Olympic gold as a literal afterthought to his career.
 
nolefam_2024 said:
Lets respect the athletes. While you have a need to make a thread this guy from Lebanon is the best in his country and is fighting for medal.

Many low ranked players have won medal because its about nationalism and patriotism as well.
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Hear hear. It's what makes the Olympics special, like that swimmer who competed for his country despite not knowing how to swim 6 months prior, or the British legend Eddie the Eagle at the winter Olympics.

A shame they changed the rules to prevent Eddie from competing in later games, it spoiled the spirit of the event.
 
travlerajm said:
There is a second player listed as playing for Lebanon (Benjamin Hassan). But the ATP site had him as playing for Germany (his country of birth) through June 2024. He conveniently switched countries this month.
Click to expand...
Lebanon isn’t a trustworthy tennis country.
 
Hitman said:
Here's the difference though.

Imagine you have five top ten Spanish players, only four of them can play for a medal.

Meanwhile a ranked 300 gets a direct entry because he is from a nation that doesn't have anyone else but him.

In slams, and other events, you enter according to how good you are...here, where you are from is probably even more important.
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Fair point. Hadnt actually thought about that.
 
Respect for Habib. While people from all over the world except western europe would definitely take american citizenship if born in USA, this guy representing lebanon despite US born.
If you are living in US along on visa with your spouse, get the child born in US. Thats what parents do for better prospect of their kid
 
I have to tell you, ol' reasonably wise people of TTW 〰️ Believe me, ... trouble NEVER takes a vacation!!!
On a recent Space-X holiday to the west Lunar side of the Moon, my wife and I had a baby there. Folks, I wonder,
since she is a "Lunar Child" as they say, does that mean people will say that she is a "Lunatic from high"???
Her future happiness of being included in Olympic Tennis, may depend on your fervent support at the IOC!!!
------So Be It ⚜ ------
 
ND-13 said:
If Alcaraz wins the Gold, it is going to bring down the Slam target by a good deal !
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Nice try but no it won’t. He needs 25 slams or bust! You better hope he keeps winning. Anyone else winning a slam is a win for Djokovic also ;)

By the way alcaraz also needs over 400 weeks at no1, 8 year end no1’s, over 40 masters, win NCGS, win all masters at least twice, win all slams at least 3 times, etc. If he matches all Djokovic insane other achievements, gets Olympic gold and even in 24 slams then it can be a tiebreaker him. In no other circumstances does it have any weight. Alcaraz needs 25 slams because he likely isn’t surpassing Djokovic records outside slams.
 
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ND-13 said:
To each their own. To be part of the big table, I dont think he needs 24 majors with or without OSG,

We have to evaluate the overall body of work done over Carlos's career to determine if he made it or not. I think wiki stats only do it for some but context and how you moved the sport is more important for me.
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Context? If you look at that then how does that favour alcaraz over Djokovic? Djokovic had to bring down Fedal. Alcaraz needs the slam record or he’s failed to be the greatest and you fail to troll Djokovic fans. You have a long wait after your idol failed you.
 
Djokovic_is_the_best#1 said:
Context? If you look at that then how does that favour alcaraz over Djokovic? Djokovic had to bring down Fedal. Alcaraz needs the slam record or he’s failed to be the greatest and you fail to troll Djokovic fans. You have a long wait after your idol failed you.
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People of sound judgment, I stand before thee to proclaim, "Trust in thy faithful mules!!" They never fail anyone!!!
 
ND-13 said:
Just remember that over the next 15 years only one side of the equation changes . Other side is stagnant
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Just remember that alcaraz records will become stagnant too when he stops. He needs the records to be the greatest. Many thought tiger woods was going to be in golf but he fell 3 short of Nicklaus. It either you get the records or you fail. Then it goes on to next generation of players to try until tennis is aborted or planet earth is destroyed! lol
 
Better_Call_Raul said:
In a Grand Slam you are guaranteed a quality opponent ranked in the Top 128. At worst, an up and coming young wild card.
Here we have Habib from Lebanon. Ranked #300.
:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
It's a bit of an apples to...squash comparison.

Slams, on paper, are more difficult, and they conform to the tour as a whole. Olympics (for some tennis players) are more prestigious.
 
Youngheart said:
People of sound judgment, I stand before thee to proclaim, "Trust in thy faithful mules!!" They never fail anyone!!!
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:-D Enjoy your humour, man.

But let's get down to the topic. What's Molisa's view on the deep, deep topic of players from Lebanon??? Especially if they had the audacity to be born in the US. I wrote a haiku to beseech a response:

Oh Molisa
speak.
Time passes.

Breaking News! Edit to inform Molisa that Carlitos beat Hady.
 
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Tallawah Tennis said:
:-D Enjoy your humour, man.

But let's get down to the topic. What's Molisa's view on the deep, deep topic of players from Lebanon??? Especially if they had the audacity to be born in the US. I wrote a haiku to beseech a response:

Oh Molisa
speak.
Time passes.

Breaking News! Edit to inform Molisa that Carlitos beat Hady.
Click to expand...
You are kind to wonder about my mule Molisa. At the present time, she is very busy, trying to eat the grass down to
a proper level at the Newport grass courts. That gives the lawnmowers a deserved day of rest. They pay by the bite.

She did indeed tell me a story once about Lebanese tennis players. They train incredibly hard, because they know
that every other week, they have to stop when the "Sands of Beirut" blow over the tennis courts. That means,
if Roland Garros (French Open to those who are travel-impared) has extreme winds, they may win a gold medal!!!
------ So Be It ⚜ ------ (Cedar of Lebanon)

EDIT ---the above post should have ended with a photo of a tree, but TTW didn't print it. (No, I'm not Mr. Cedar!!)
 
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Sinner withdrew with tonsilitis. Days before the tournament had even begun.
Nothing needs to be written in stone days before the tournament has started.
The Olympics should have replaced Sinner in singles with another Italian player. Several Top 50 singles Italians that are jumping at the chance.

Instead, the world's #1 Sinner gets replaced by a #300 from Lebanon, who plays in the second-level Challenger Tour.

In a tournament already compromised with three sets instead of five. And a smaller 64-player draw.

Obviously none of this makes any sense and it needs to be called out. Nobody can justify it.
Habib was already participating in Olympic Doubles, so there is no case to be made for inclusivity of smaller nations.



www.newarab.com

Lebanon's Habib ready for fairytale clash with Alcaraz

Lebanon's Hady Habib will face Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in the first round of the men's singles on Saturday at the Olympics after Jannik Sinner withdrew.
www.newarab.com www.newarab.com


Now, because of a quirk of fate, the Houston-born 25-year-old will walk out on Court Suzanne Lenglen on Saturday to face Carlos Alcaraz in the first round of the men's singles.

Ranked 275th in the ATP's singles rankings, Habib was only slated to play doubles in Paris with Benjamin Hassan.

But when world number one Jannik Sinner withdrew from the Olympics with tonsillitis on Wednesday, Habib, who plays his tennis on the second-level Challenger Tour, received a call-up.
 
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