Winning The 2024 Paris Olympics Is More Difficult Than Winning Any Slam.

[Better_Call_Raul]

Our dear readers may not be aware that Paris Olympics entails winning 6 matches in 8 days.

Yes, you heard that correctly.

6 matches in 8 days.
5 matches in the last 6 days!

The French Open gives you many days off but the Paris Olympics is a different animal.

And with a global audience far surpassing the viewership of any Slam. While also carrying the weight of your country on your shoulders.

It is certainly the most physically and mentally grueling event in all of tennis and perhaps in all of individual sport.

Do check out the grueling schedule. Albeit three sets but physically grueling nonetheless.

 

[GAS]

Raul_SJ takes

 

[MeatTornado]

I don't think anyone is capable of such a feat. They should probably all just withdraw now.

 

[vokazu]

Why bother? Rod Laver and Borg and Margaret Courts didn't play Olympics.

CYGS is more difficult than winning Olympics.

 

[Better_Call_Raul]

CYGS is more difficult than winning Olympics.

CYGS is not a single event. It requires winning four events.

Why bother? Rod Laver and Borg and Margaret Courts didn't play Olympics.

The Olympic Tennis were only recently introduced in 1988.
Many feel that tennis does not even belong in the Olympics, but that is a separate discussion for another day.
The point is that they are cramming many matches in 8 days with very little rest.

It is a physically brutal event!

 

[ND-13]

I can see Zverev doing an Andy Murray. Seems like an energy reservoir and BO3 is his wheelhouse

 

[roysid]

its like an masters1000, only much more in prestige and much less in financial gain

 

[Bukowski]

its like an masters1000, only much more in prestige and much less in financial gain

it’s more like being Spider-Man after Toby Maguire.

 

[KantenKlaar]

Then hats off to those who brought gold medals home.

 

[GoldenMasters]

The only reason Djokovic is so obsessed with this is because its the only accomplishment missing in his career. Slams will always hold the most value.

 

[Krish872007]

How groundbreaking! Never seen before!

Andy Murray is therefore the GOAT.
Did all of that twice over, with the weight of a nation behind him. 12 matches won in 16-17 days across 2012 and 2016. And when finals were still Best of 5.

It's marginally more compressed than previous editions but similar to the old Masters events

 

[Nappa]

Biggest feat not only in tennis but in sports. Its the most prestigious sport event in the history of mankind. You are there fighting for your country not only for yourself. The trophy cabinet feels quite empty without an OGM to be honest, no matter how much youve achieved.

 

[aldeayeah]

CYGS is not a single event. It requires winning four events.



The Olympic Tennis were only recently introduced in 1988.
Many feel that tennis does not even belong in the Olympics, but that is a separate discussion for another day.
The point is that they are cramming many matches in 8 days with very little rest.

It is a physically brutal event!

People are laughing at you, but this is no joke on a slow surface in the hottest season of the year. I wonder if they'll schedule night matches this time.

 

[toby55555]

Steffi approves post.

 

[Better_Call_Raul]

Andy Murray is therefore the GOAT.

Let's not get carried away. And let's be very clear. Slam win and Gold are both at about the same level of difficulty to achieve.
Its quadrennial nature alone makes the Olympic Gold slightly more difficult to achieve.

 

[NAS]

What, it has been done many times.

Novak himself won 6 match in seven days to win first Cincinnati, and he won three match in three setter.
2018 Karen won Paris master by beating good solid players by winning 6 match in seven days
2019 Fabio won MC on same fashion beating three top ten player on slow surface of MC and winning six match in seven days
2022 Rune won Paris master by winning six match in seven days and beat 5 top ten.
2014 Canada master where Tsonga beat four top ten players to win six match in seven days
Ofocurse there may be many more example , these are just top of my head

 

[Justshort]

It's bloody Masters event occurring once in 4 years.

 

[NAS]

It's bloody Masters event occurring once in 4 years.

Yep they just take out the bye for top players but they give extra rest for first round and final.
It is the between three four matches which are tough

 

[mehdimike]

What, it has been done many times.

Novak himself won 6 match in seven days to win first Cincinnati, and he won three match in three setter.
2018 Karen won Paris master by beating good solid players by winning 6 match in seven days
2019 Fabio won MC on same fashion beating three top ten player on slow surface of MC and winning six match in seven days
2022 Rune won Paris master by winning six match in seven days and beat 5 top ten.
2014 Canada master where Tsonga beat four top ten players to win six match in seven days
Ofocurse there may be many more example , these are just top of my head

I am just curious to know how RG courts are gonna play in the middle of the summer.

 

[tennis_pro]

They have to play everyday?

Impossibru.

 

[aldeayeah]

I am just curious to know how RG courts are gonna play in the middle of the summer.

 

[Better_Call_Raul]

It's bloody Masters event occurring once in 4 years.

You cannot compare the pressure of a M1000 to the pressure and global viewership of the Olympics.
Players often casually shrug off a Masters1000 loss. That never happens with Olympics.

The two events are galaxies apart in terms of pressure. Not.Even.Close.

 

[ibbi]

I don't know about that, but if everyone is healthy it should be a hell of a field.

Zverev and Tsitsipas are both far more credible in best of 3 than best of 5.

Alcaraz and Sinner speak for themselves.

With no points on the line on a clay court Casper Ruud is always one of the best in the world (I know we can't really make this joke anymore, this'll be the last time, I promise).

Rafa and Novak are healthy they will add to the starpower if nothing else. You can put King of the Olympics Sir Andy on that pile too.

Hell, throw Holger in there as well, because if Roland Garros was bo3 he'd have rolled to the quarterfinals.

Get PUMPED!

 

[Rovesciarete]

Looks extremely intense. How many top players will play in all three competitions? Stefanos? Maybe Sinner? Zverev? Khachanov?

Stefanos, Tsitsibros and S+S

Sinner, Sinner + some good Italian clay-courter, Sinner + Paolini.

 

[Better_Call_Raul]

Looks extremely intense. How many top players will play in all three competitions? Stefanos? Maybe Sinner? Zverev? Khachanov?

Stefanos, Tsitsibros and S+S

Sinner, Sinner + some good Italian clay-courter, Sinner + Paolini.

Stef will be playing all three. Don't see how he can pass up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
He could easily medal in all three.

 

[Honza]

Olympics are a nice bonus. Obviously majors are a different kind of animals because of the competition, but Olympics are a nice distraction from the hard grind for sure.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Well there goes Rafas chances lol. Why do they squeeze it together like that

 

[Rovesciarete]

Stef will be playing all three. Don't see how he can pass up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
He could easily medal in all three.

Easily is a bit much but he has the best shot in any of the three which he will likely ever have and thus he should.

 

[Better_Call_Raul]

Easily is a bit much but he has a good chance in any of the three which makes it imho smart to play in all.

Correction: Forgot that Badosa is not from the same country.
He may not enter Mixed. Would also be awkward to play Mixed against your gf.

OTOH, Tsitsipas/Sakkari would be a powerhouse Doubles team.

 

[airchallenge2]

Biggest feat not only in tennis but in sports. Its the most prestigious sport event in the history of mankind. You are there fighting for your country not only for yourself. The trophy cabinet feels quite empty without an OGM to be honest, no matter how much youve achieved.

When it comes to fighting for your country, I find Davis Cup in the old days were way more important (especially when playing on home soil and having the pressure of entire nation.)
In 1988 Steffi wins gold medal while Boris brings first Davis Cup Trophy for W Germany. Which one do you think mattered most for their people?

 

[Sport]

Many feel that tennis does not even belong in the Olympics

Maybe in the 1960s, 1970s or even 1980s.

In 2024 that's not the case. I have never read a quote from a currently active tennis player saying tennis does not belong to the Olympics.

 

[Pass750]

Fast 4, no ad scoring would solve this problem. Or maybe tie break tens.

 

[Honza]

Maybe in the 1960s, 1970s or even 1980s.

In 2024 that's not the case. I have never read a quote from a currently active tennis player saying tennis does not belong to the Olympics.

Tbh i think most players honor the old Davis Cup more, but people that dont know much about tennis value the gold medal more.

 

[Tennfan123]

It’s a meaningless event tennis wise.

 

[thrust]

Why bother? Rod Laver and Borg and Margaret Courts didn't play Olympics.

CYGS is more difficult than winning Olympics.

Tennis was not an Olympic Sport when Laver, Court or Borg were playing. Actually the Olympic schedule is similar to the masters tournaments, before this year, except or IW and Miami.

 

[Nappa]

When it comes to fighting for your country, I find Davis Cup in the old days were way more important (especially when playing on home soil and having the pressure of entire nation.)
In 1988 Steffi wins gold medal while Boris brings first Davis Cup Trophy for W Germany. Which one do you think mattered most for their people?

Old Davis Cup was a great tournament that has sadly passed away due to greedy interests.

 

[thrust]

Old Davis Cup was a great tournament that has sadly passed away due to greedy interests.

SAD, BUT TRUE!

 

[MichaelNadal]

It’s a meaningless event tennis wise.

Tell Venus Williams that lol.

 

[Drob]

Our dear readers may not be aware that Paris Olympics entails winning 6 matches in 8 days.

Yes, you heard that correctly.

6 matches in 8 days.
5 matches in the last 6 days!

The French Open gives you many days off but the Paris Olympics is a different animal.

And with a global audience far surpassing the viewership of any Slam. While also carrying the weight of your country on your shoulders.

It is certainly the most physically and mentally grueling event in all of tennis and perhaps in all of individual sport.

Do check out the grueling schedule. Albeit three sets but physically grueling nonetheless.

Five-set Final, no?

 

[roysid]

I think its Federer who started the importance of Olympics gold. In the 90s, men were hardly interested. Sampras, Becker , Courier etc didnt show much interest. Agassi won when he ranked 100 plus in 96.

Federer himself failed to win singles gold in 2004, 2008 and 2012. But his fascination made others to follow. Nadal won gold easily in 2008. Murray did well in 2012 and 2016 by winning gold.

I wonder how much players put the effort now but this format is more prone to upsets like the B03 M1000

 

[Mainad]

I think its Federer who started the importance of Olympics gold. In the 90s, men were hardly interested. Sampras, Becker , Courier etc didnt show much interest. Agassi won when he ranked 100 plus in 96.

Federer himself failed to win singles gold in 2004, 2008 and 2012. But his fascination made others to follow. Nadal won gold easily in 2008. Murray did well in 2012 and 2016 by winning gold.

I wonder how much players put the effort now but this format is more prone to upsets like the B03 M1000

I think the fact that Federer came from a small country may have enhanced the importance of winning the Olympics for him and for his country.

 

[Tano]

A kind of Roland Garros to the best of three sets and in summer.
May the best win.

 

[Hitman]

I think its Federer who started the importance of Olympics gold. In the 90s, men were hardly interested. Sampras, Becker , Courier etc didnt show much interest. Agassi won when he ranked 100 plus in 96.

Federer himself failed to win singles gold in 2004, 2008 and 2012. But his fascination made others to follow. Nadal won gold easily in 2008. Murray did well in 2012 and 2016 by winning gold.

I wonder how much players put the effort now but this format is more prone to upsets like the B03 M1000

For Federer it was special because he met his wife at the Sydney Olympics. It made the event more special to him because of that.

 

[Hitman]

I think the fact that Federer came from a small country may have enhanced the importance of winning the Olympics for him and for his country.

Rosset had already won it, it wasn't something ground breaking for his country if he won it.

 

[murphywmm]

I feel those people saying the Olympics are a meaningless event for tennis are just fanboys trying to cope. In reality, it's a very important accomplishment for the players. And playing for your country can produce a lot of interesting and unusual results. I still remember Federer's shocking loss to Berdych (who was an unknown teenager at the time) in 2004. Then we have some interesting winners like Nicolas Massu (Chile) and Monica Puig (Puerto Rico) - neither of whom went past the 4th round at any major. Many players will play at a much higher level when representing their country. But you also have players who seem to struggle when playing for their country - Federer and Djokovic are an example. In fact, it's quite something that Novak Djokovic (with all of his accomplishments) has never made it to the Gold medal match despite having competed in four Olympics already.

Andre Agassi (1996 Gold medalist) stands alone as the only male player to win the Career Super Slam (All four majors, Tour Finals, and OG singles).

 

[nolefam_2024]

Nole will be coming for the gold. I don't know how.

 

[helterskelter]

I think its Federer who started the importance of Olympics gold. In the 90s, men were hardly interested. Sampras, Becker , Courier etc didnt show much interest. Agassi won when he ranked 100 plus in 96.

Federer himself failed to win singles gold in 2004, 2008 and 2012. But his fascination made others to follow. Nadal won gold easily in 2008. Murray did well in 2012 and 2016 by winning gold.

I wonder how much players put the effort now but this format is more prone to upsets like the B03 M1000

Agassi wasn’t ranked 100+ in 1996. He was #6. He fell outside the top 100 in 1997.

 

[Mainad]

Rosset had already won it, it wasn't something ground breaking for his country if he won it.

Still, I think players from smaller countries usually feel more motivated to bring home a medal especially a gold one.

 

[Hitman]

Still, I think players from smaller countries usually feel more motivated to bring home a medal especially a gold one.

Why smaller countries? Roddick, Fish were super motivated in 2004 also. Chile isn't that small of a country when they pounced for two golds. Argentina isn't small, and we saw Del Potro play his heart out.

Thiem is from Austria, he couldn't care less about the medal.

This is simply a personal thing IMO. Rosset had already brought gold home, so Federer wasn't going to do something unique in that aspect. Sure Federer wanted to do it, but I stress again, as he pointed out himself that the Olympics have a very special place in his heart because of meeting Mirka.

 

[lidoazndiabloboi]

The GOAT