With Wimbledon so soon after the French Open, and every grand slam preceded by their own ATP run up events, the Tennis calendar is busier than ever. This year sees the added stress (bonus for us fans) of the Olympics. The competition for Gold medals has played a bigger importance to players every time it has run and It has even helped some players careers’.
The road to Rio is in full swing, but how do the Olympics affect the pros and is it a hindrance or benefit to the sport?
Tennis arrived at the Olympics in Seoul 1988 after being missing since 1926, when it was kicked out after a dispute over professionals playing. In Seoul there was a similar situation that Rio will be experiencing when Golf returns after a similar long break. Golf looks to Tennis as an example of how it can be a success. Tennis has become a unique part of the games, with the only opportunity to see famous professional sportsmen at the games competing for medals. The Rio Olympics will begin on the 5th of August, just a month after the end of Wimbledon. This hectic schedule would make most, as it has the golfers, struggle to schedule in the tournament, but it seems the Tennis stars love it and have taken to the tournament like ducks to water. The team element seems to be something the Men and Women of the ATP and WTA relish, which is understandable when they are spending 4 years alone on the tour in between. The potential glory is also what they strive for, with the Olympics having a long history of incredible achievements by nations and humans alike, that Tennis wants to be a part of.
The Olympics have been vital in some players’ careers as well as lives. Andy Murray was a perennial ‘almost man‘ until the Olympics landed in his home country. His embracing of the competition and winning the singles gold at London 2012 has been said to be a catalyst for his success after and belief that he can win. Particularly his Wimbledon success the following year. Roger Federer, who won doubles in Beijing in 2008 actually can attribute the Olympics to more than just his Tennis career. He met his wife Mirka at Sydney 2000 and they have been together for 12 years now having two sets of twins! Novak Djokovic is pro Olympics too, going as far as calling it the fifth grand slam after being asked if he finds it important, “You know, we have the best players in the world participating in arguably the fifth Grand Slam. It’s of that importance for all of us, even more, because it happens every four years.”
This year’s Rio games are proving just as popular for the players despite the Zika scares. Rafael Nadal, who is skipping Wimbledon this year after a wrist injury, isn’t planning on doing the same for Brazil. He is planning to come back for the Toronto Masters in the lead up to the games in July. He leads a strong Spanish team, which includes Garbine Murguruza and David Ferrer. Switzerland too are spoilt for choice with Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka, who lead the men and Martina Hingis with the women. Betting tips all point to a very swiss based medals table. The only team that is struggling to get the stars on the plane is Australia, with that man again, Nick Kyrgios, kicking up a fuss and quitting.
Not even Kyrgios can ruin my excitement though as I hope it will be another stellar year at the Olympics for Tennis. Many were sceptical when it joined the Olympics again, but we have seen that the pros embraced the spirit of the Olympics and also raises it to new heights. Golf would do well to look at the passion from the Tennis players and the growth of the game since joining, as motivation to stop sulking and get on the plane to Rio!
