It baffles me that Djoker fans resort to put their idol Nole in the same league as Federer at the Olympics Games
WTF is a glorified exhibition vs. Olympic Gold Medalist doesn't count
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WeekendTennisHack
Hall of Fame
Djokovic only has 21 Open era slams.
SecondToNone
Semi-Pro
Just checked again it says 22.
Purestriker
Legend
NAS
Hall of Fame
That is quite good point, but not surprise coming from sensible poster.
I personally feel if Olympics was yearly he might have won.
He won three big titles late. MC ( at the age of 26) , RG ( at the age of 29) and Cincinnati ( at the age of 31)
Sometimes it is not meant to be.
I mean Fed lost the 2004 Olympics in his peak year from nowhere with very easy draw.
Davy, Berdych( both when they were just starting to play decent), Robedro, Dent, Massu and Fish.
TripleATeam
G.O.A.T.
Both stupid statements.
The YEC is the 5th biggest tournament played each year. The Olympics is the 5th biggest tournament in years when it's played. They're about the same in prestige. The difference lies in frequency.
The Olympics take place every 4 years. At best, a player has maybe 5 opportunities to win (and only maybe 3 times in their prime). That means each win is amplified in its impressiveness (why Murray's 2 OGs are quite impressive), but also why not winning one isn't that bad. If we took only tournament wins that happened in Olympic years, Rafa would still be missing an AO and a USO. Djokovic would be missing a USO too. So Olympics are impressive when you win, but not terrible if you lose.
The YEC is different in that regard. You play the top 8 players in a given year (meaning you also need to qualify for the tournament), but it's also played every year. Meaning a top player will get at least 10 opportunities to win it. In particularly strong players' cases, over 15 chances in a career. If every tournament is random, if you had even a 10% chance of winning any given YEC, you'd expect to win once in 10 tries. Not to mention you have the capability of losing once in the RR stages, meaning an upset is even less likely as long as you're a better player than the competitor.
Both tournaments matter.
The YEC is the 5th biggest tournament played each year. The Olympics is the 5th biggest tournament in years when it's played. They're about the same in prestige. The difference lies in frequency.
The Olympics take place every 4 years. At best, a player has maybe 5 opportunities to win (and only maybe 3 times in their prime). That means each win is amplified in its impressiveness (why Murray's 2 OGs are quite impressive), but also why not winning one isn't that bad. If we took only tournament wins that happened in Olympic years, Rafa would still be missing an AO and a USO. Djokovic would be missing a USO too. So Olympics are impressive when you win, but not terrible if you lose.
The YEC is different in that regard. You play the top 8 players in a given year (meaning you also need to qualify for the tournament), but it's also played every year. Meaning a top player will get at least 10 opportunities to win it. In particularly strong players' cases, over 15 chances in a career. If every tournament is random, if you had even a 10% chance of winning any given YEC, you'd expect to win once in 10 tries. Not to mention you have the capability of losing once in the RR stages, meaning an upset is even less likely as long as you're a better player than the competitor.
Both tournaments matter.
WeekendTennisHack
Hall of Fame
Can you read?
Azure
G.O.A.T.
Look at the pride in his eyes!!
Martin J
Hall of Fame
The Olympics has become a very important tournament in the last 15-20 years and the players clearly value it a lot, so denying its significance is a silly game. Remember how emotional Novak was when he lost in 2008/2016, and how Federer reacted after beating Delpo in the SF, kissing the flag on his shirt. Serena says one of her favorite memories was winning the gold medal in doubles with her sister. Also, it's a place where players compete as athletes and not as professionals, which is very special for (some of) them.
However, WTF is still a bigger tournament imo and probably tougher to win because, more or less, all the top competitors are present (and you play them exclusively) and players are usually very exhausted at the end of the year, so it requires additional effort to be physically and mentally prepared for tough matches. Of course, it could happen that the draw completely collapses like in 2017, but these are very rare occasions. It used to be even more challenging with the BO5 finals.
It has lost its prestige a bit in the last 10-15 years, but still has a longer/greater tradition than the Olympics (in tennis) and is a bigger tournament overall.
However, WTF is still a bigger tournament imo and probably tougher to win because, more or less, all the top competitors are present (and you play them exclusively) and players are usually very exhausted at the end of the year, so it requires additional effort to be physically and mentally prepared for tough matches. Of course, it could happen that the draw completely collapses like in 2017, but these are very rare occasions. It used to be even more challenging with the BO5 finals.
It has lost its prestige a bit in the last 10-15 years, but still has a longer/greater tradition than the Olympics (in tennis) and is a bigger tournament overall.
Martin J
Hall of Fame
obviously
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
The Olympics are the be all, end all for certain sports like track and field, skiing, swimming, speed skating, weightlifting, snowboarding, curling, bobsled, figure skating, etc. and etc. and etc. Winning gold in these events will make you a star and the premier in your field. Tennis just doesn't fall into this category because it's not the biggest tournament in the sport. The Slams are.
It also doesn't have the history most of these events have. From 1924-1988, the event was only held in 1968, so just once in 60 years. People don't even know or realize that it held as a demonstration event in 1984 and Edberg and Graf won, yet don't get credit for it as Olympic champions. With that said, an Olympic gold is an Olympic gold and they all look and weigh the same, and most athletes grew up watching their favorite athletes at these games so they want a gold too, but the prestige for it in tennis isn't the same as it is in track and field, for example. Still it's a great achievement and a bonus if you can win it.
The ATP Finals has more historical importance and it's just a harder tournament to win where you're playing top 8 players only. You're not getting a draw like Agassi in 1996 Olympics or Massu in 2004. To be honest, Mecir and Rosset's Olympic golds are the most impressive in the Open Era because they did it over a good crop of players in BO5.
It also doesn't have the history most of these events have. From 1924-1988, the event was only held in 1968, so just once in 60 years. People don't even know or realize that it held as a demonstration event in 1984 and Edberg and Graf won, yet don't get credit for it as Olympic champions. With that said, an Olympic gold is an Olympic gold and they all look and weigh the same, and most athletes grew up watching their favorite athletes at these games so they want a gold too, but the prestige for it in tennis isn't the same as it is in track and field, for example. Still it's a great achievement and a bonus if you can win it.
The ATP Finals has more historical importance and it's just a harder tournament to win where you're playing top 8 players only. You're not getting a draw like Agassi in 1996 Olympics or Massu in 2004. To be honest, Mecir and Rosset's Olympic golds are the most impressive in the Open Era because they did it over a good crop of players in BO5.
Topspin_80
Hall of Fame
If Federer won a Gold medal, then Nadal won 2!
TripleATeam
G.O.A.T.
Federer has no OGM that's relevant to Singles discussion. When we talk about the greatness of players, we only consider their singles greatness unless stated otherwise. Unless we want to call McEnroe a 16 time Grand Slam champion and 9-time year-end #1, we need to consider Federer an Olympic silver medalist in context of his singles achievements.
InsuranceMan
Hall of Fame
Don’t feed the trolls, please.
AgassiSuperSlam11
Professional
Not staring its wrong or right but quite often in the past the entire slam count for players were tabulated in discussing their total slam count. Margaret Court often would be credited with winning 64 majors. Of course, the achievements of Navratilova in both doubles and mixed doubles are also often credited as part of her overall legacy.
As for the overall discussion which has already been discussed numerous times this often comes down to the individual player. I don't regard either tournament as a glorified exhibition or a 250/500 level event as some claim.
CoolCoolCool
Hall of Fame
If we count Rog's GM when talking about singles, does that mean we should call Kyrgios a slam winner?
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Yikes lol
Julius Caesar
Professional
I kinda feel it’s like the opposite of what you say really
Clay lover
Legend
Scary thought experiment
Mainad
Bionic Poster
And the only ones that have more than 30 Masters.
CoolCoolCool
Hall of Fame
Irrelevant question. Olympics Games doesn't equate to ITF tennis.
You're comparing apples to oranges.
D
Deleted member 779124
Guest
Both count but YEC is played year or year so that makes it worth more IMHO.
CoolCoolCool
Hall of Fame
Unseeded Player
Hall of Fame
He won it in doubles.. That is not the same..
honestly the GOAT should be able to win WTF at least 3-4x ... if u can't win it even once that says something
Julius Caesar
Professional
Honestly the GOAT should be able to win RG at least 3-4x… plus at least two OGM (singles or doubles)… if u can’t win OGM even once that says something
AgassiSuperSlam11
Professional
From banned poster Sorana Fan:
So let's see what the players think:
NADAL
Nadal: Olympics bigger than Grand Slams
"The Olympic Games is very special for many reasons and in my opinion the biggest one because you are representing your country"
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/nadal-olympics-bigger-grand-slams-125157478.html
DJOKOVIC:
Djokovic: "Winning gold brings immortality"
Interviewer: You look like you are loving the whole Olympic experience?
Djokovic: “I am and I have seen the majority of the athletes and they cannot remove the smile from their faces. It is an excitement that is like no other. It is the most recognizable event in the history of sport. In the past, when you won the Olympic Games you were considered immortal and you got eternal glory – I don’t think it has changed much really because that is how much it means to the world of sport and to the athletes“
http://www.thetennisspace.com/djokovic-exclusive-winning-gold-brings-immortality/
FEDERER
"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be playing at Wimbledon at the Olympic Games. It's just a really big deal for us to be living that Olympic spirit, right there, at the most incredible arena we have in tennis. "It's a big goal for me, there's no doubt about it. This is my fourth time. I don't think there's another player in singles who has played four in this era so I am very happy that I'm able to do this. "I'm just super excited and can't wait until it comes around."
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1251827-roger-federer-what-does-olympic-gold-mean-for-r-fed
MURRAY (months before winning medal)
"I would say that winning an Olympic gold is bigger than winning a Grand Slam," Murray said, when asked what the lasting impact would be of winning either. "Everybody knows what an Olympic gold is. Everybody on the street knows about that anywhere you go. I think most people know what a Grand Slam is, but I don't think everybody does. The Olympics is bigger than tennis, bigger than the Slams for sure. It's a huge, huge competition, the biggest sporting competition in the world."
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/s...lympic-gold-bigger-than-a-major-28736461.html
AGASSI
Andre Agassi: Olympic tennis gold matters more than any Grand Slam.
For Andre Agassi, if he could have only "one trophy in the trophy case, between all the Grand Slams and the [Olympic] gold medal", he says that he would "lean towards winning the gold medal." Andre Agassi won the Atlanta 1996 Olympics tennis gold medal, and he says that it was so special because "it represents so much more than just tennis."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ol...is-gold-matters-more-than-any-Grand-Slam.html
ZVEREV
"There is nothing bigger than winning Olympic Gold." (2-Time ATP Finals champion).
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/01/sports/olympics/alexander-zverev-tennis-gold.html
I don't necessarily agree with some of these player opinions but should these opinions hold as much weight as prestigious TTW Bionic/HOF posters vs actual GS champions?
(minus Zverev)
So let's see what the players think:
NADAL
Nadal: Olympics bigger than Grand Slams
"The Olympic Games is very special for many reasons and in my opinion the biggest one because you are representing your country"
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/nadal-olympics-bigger-grand-slams-125157478.html
DJOKOVIC:
Djokovic: "Winning gold brings immortality"
Interviewer: You look like you are loving the whole Olympic experience?
Djokovic: “I am and I have seen the majority of the athletes and they cannot remove the smile from their faces. It is an excitement that is like no other. It is the most recognizable event in the history of sport. In the past, when you won the Olympic Games you were considered immortal and you got eternal glory – I don’t think it has changed much really because that is how much it means to the world of sport and to the athletes“
http://www.thetennisspace.com/djokovic-exclusive-winning-gold-brings-immortality/
FEDERER
"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be playing at Wimbledon at the Olympic Games. It's just a really big deal for us to be living that Olympic spirit, right there, at the most incredible arena we have in tennis. "It's a big goal for me, there's no doubt about it. This is my fourth time. I don't think there's another player in singles who has played four in this era so I am very happy that I'm able to do this. "I'm just super excited and can't wait until it comes around."
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1251827-roger-federer-what-does-olympic-gold-mean-for-r-fed
MURRAY (months before winning medal)
"I would say that winning an Olympic gold is bigger than winning a Grand Slam," Murray said, when asked what the lasting impact would be of winning either. "Everybody knows what an Olympic gold is. Everybody on the street knows about that anywhere you go. I think most people know what a Grand Slam is, but I don't think everybody does. The Olympics is bigger than tennis, bigger than the Slams for sure. It's a huge, huge competition, the biggest sporting competition in the world."
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/s...lympic-gold-bigger-than-a-major-28736461.html
AGASSI
Andre Agassi: Olympic tennis gold matters more than any Grand Slam.
For Andre Agassi, if he could have only "one trophy in the trophy case, between all the Grand Slams and the [Olympic] gold medal", he says that he would "lean towards winning the gold medal." Andre Agassi won the Atlanta 1996 Olympics tennis gold medal, and he says that it was so special because "it represents so much more than just tennis."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ol...is-gold-matters-more-than-any-Grand-Slam.html
ZVEREV
"There is nothing bigger than winning Olympic Gold." (2-Time ATP Finals champion).
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/01/sports/olympics/alexander-zverev-tennis-gold.html
I don't necessarily agree with some of these player opinions but should these opinions hold as much weight as prestigious TTW Bionic/HOF posters vs actual GS champions?
(minus Zverev)
sometennisdot
Professional
Nah. Nadal just never prioritized it. Have you seen the emotions Djokovic had in 2016 and 2021? Comparing Olympics to WTF is an absolute joke.
Holmes
Hall of Fame
I mean to be fair, how about the countless players opinions, including our Feddy, who have said that winning Wimbledon is the crown achievement in tennis?From banned poster Sorana Fan:
So let's see what the players think:
NADAL
Nadal: Olympics bigger than Grand Slams
"The Olympic Games is very special for many reasons and in my opinion the biggest one because you are representing your country"
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/nadal-olympics-bigger-grand-slams-125157478.html
DJOKOVIC:
Djokovic: "Winning gold brings immortality"
Interviewer: You look like you are loving the whole Olympic experience?
Djokovic: “I am and I have seen the majority of the athletes and they cannot remove the smile from their faces. It is an excitement that is like no other. It is the most recognizable event in the history of sport. In the past, when you won the Olympic Games you were considered immortal and you got eternal glory – I don’t think it has changed much really because that is how much it means to the world of sport and to the athletes“
http://www.thetennisspace.com/djokovic-exclusive-winning-gold-brings-immortality/
FEDERER
"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be playing at Wimbledon at the Olympic Games. It's just a really big deal for us to be living that Olympic spirit, right there, at the most incredible arena we have in tennis. "It's a big goal for me, there's no doubt about it. This is my fourth time. I don't think there's another player in singles who has played four in this era so I am very happy that I'm able to do this. "I'm just super excited and can't wait until it comes around."
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1251827-roger-federer-what-does-olympic-gold-mean-for-r-fed
MURRAY (months before winning medal)
"I would say that winning an Olympic gold is bigger than winning a Grand Slam," Murray said, when asked what the lasting impact would be of winning either. "Everybody knows what an Olympic gold is. Everybody on the street knows about that anywhere you go. I think most people know what a Grand Slam is, but I don't think everybody does. The Olympics is bigger than tennis, bigger than the Slams for sure. It's a huge, huge competition, the biggest sporting competition in the world."
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/s...lympic-gold-bigger-than-a-major-28736461.html
AGASSI
Andre Agassi: Olympic tennis gold matters more than any Grand Slam.
For Andre Agassi, if he could have only "one trophy in the trophy case, between all the Grand Slams and the [Olympic] gold medal", he says that he would "lean towards winning the gold medal." Andre Agassi won the Atlanta 1996 Olympics tennis gold medal, and he says that it was so special because "it represents so much more than just tennis."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ol...is-gold-matters-more-than-any-Grand-Slam.html
ZVEREV
"There is nothing bigger than winning Olympic Gold." (2-Time ATP Finals champion).
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/01/sports/olympics/alexander-zverev-tennis-gold.html
I don't necessarily agree with some of these player opinions but should these opinions hold as much weight as prestigious TTW Bionic/HOF posters vs actual GS champions?
RS
Bionic Poster
Which 2?
BorgTheGOAT
Legend
Yes. Same as a doubles slam values more than a singles runner up.
PMChambers
Hall of Fame
The ATP have spoken regarding the worth of Oly. 0 pt, $0.
Players spoken with good ATP500 field.
Players spoken with good ATP500 field.
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