A Grand Stage for Tennis
Tennis has a storied connection with the Olympic Games, dating back to its debut at the inaugural modern Olympics in Athens in 1896 where Great Britain’s John Boland made history by winning gold medals in both men’s singles and doubles.
From humble beginnings as a sport for amateur players to its current status as a full medal sport attracting the world’s top-ranked athletes, Olympic tennis showcases the very best in the sport.
The Evolution of Olympic Tennis
Initially, only men’s singles and doubles events were included, with women’s singles and doubles joining in 1900. The sport was dropped after 1924 due to disagreements over amateur status, returning as a demonstration event in 1968 and 1984 before being reinstated as a full medal event in 1988 at Seoul.
The amateur disagreements between the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF – now known as the ITF) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) revolved around defining who qualified as an “amateur” for Olympic tennis. The IOC upheld strict amateur standards, insisting players be non-professionals, while the ILTF adopted a more lenient view. This clash over player eligibility and organisational control reflected deeper tensions. Concerns grew over “veiled professionalism,” where players technically labelled as amateurs were earning money through tournaments.
The ILTF sought greater authority over Olympic tennis rules and representation on the IOC, fuelling disputes. Social class undertones further complicated matters, as the amateur definition often excluded players from lower social backgrounds. These irreconcilable differences ultimately led to tennis being dropped from the Olympic programme after the 1924 Paris Games. The sport only returned in 1988, with a landmark change allowing professional players to compete, aligning Olympic tennis with the modern era’s commercial and competitive realities.
This resurgence aligned tennis with other global tournaments, such as the Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, and Grand Slam events like Wimbledon, the French Open, and the US Open, further solidifying its prestige.
Memorable Moments and Legendary Players
Olympic tennis has witnessed some of the most iconic athletes in history. Steffi Graf’s 1988 victory earned her the coveted “Golden Slam,” while Andy Murray’s back-to-back singles golds at London 2012 and Rio 2016 remain unparalleled. Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer have also graced the Olympic stage, adding to their Grand Slam accolades.
Medal Highlights Across Events
Today, Olympic tennis features five events: men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles, which was reintroduced in 2012.
- Gold Glory: Novak Djokovic secured his singles bronze in 2008 but still seeks the elusive singles gold. Venus Williams holds the record for the most Olympic tennis medals, with five (four gold, one silver), while Rafael Nadal remains the only player with both Olympic singles and doubles golds.
- Mixed Doubles Drama: Mixed doubles have delivered thrilling matches, with Team GB’s Laura Robson and Andy Murray taking silver in 2012. In Tokyo 2020, the mixed doubles gold highlighted the event’s unique appeal.
- National Pride: Host nations often excel, with standout performances such as France’s at Roland Garros-inspired Paris 2024 and the USA’s dominance in the Billie Jean King Cup era.
Olympic Tennis in Paris 2024
The tennis tournaments at the 2024 Paris Olympics took place from 27 July to 4 August at Stade Roland Garros, the iconic clay-court Grand Slam venue. This marked the first Olympic tennis event on clay since Barcelona 1992. A total of 175 players from 40 nations competed across five events: men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles, all in a single-elimination format.
Key Highlights:
- Men’s Singles: Novak Djokovic captured his first Olympic gold medal after defeating Carlos Alcaraz in a hard-fought final featuring two tiebreak sets. Djokovic, competing in his fifth Olympics, became the fifth player in history to achieve a career Golden Slam (all four Grand Slams and Olympic gold). This victory also marked Serbia’s first Olympic tennis gold.
- Women’s Singles: Zheng Qinwen made history by becoming the first Chinese tennis player to win Olympic singles gold. Her stunning semifinal upset of world No. 1 Iga Świątek, a dominant force at Roland Garros, set the stage for her gold medal win over Croatia’s Donna Vekić. Świątek later secured bronze, defeating Slovakia’s Anna Karolína Schmiedlová.
- Men’s Doubles: Australian pair Matthew Ebden and John Peers claimed the gold, ending a 28-year drought for Australia in this event since the legendary “Woodies” won in 1996. The USA took both silver and bronze, with Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram securing second place.
- Women’s Doubles: Italy’s Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini triumphed, adding another gold to Italy’s Olympic tennis legacy. The Individual Neutral Athletes (INA) team of Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider earned silver, while Spain’s Cristina Bucșa and Sara Sorribes Tormo took bronze.
- Mixed Doubles: The Czech Republic duo Kateřina Siniaková and Tomáš Macháč clinched gold in this thrilling category. China’s Wang Xinyu and Zhang Zhizhen claimed silver, while Canada’s Gabriela Dabrowski and Félix Auger-Aliassime secured bronze.
Farewell to Legends at Paris 2024
The Paris Olympics marked the final chapter for tennis greats Andy Murray and Angelique Kerber. Murray, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and three-time Grand Slam champion, bid farewell after an illustrious career. Kerber, who had claimed silver at Rio 2016, also concluded her professional journey, having left an indelible mark on the sport.
Olympic tennis has grown from a sport for amateur players to a showcase for Grand Slam champions. It embodies the spirit of the Olympic Games, celebrating international competition, teamwork, and individual brilliance.
