- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
It’s been said before, but I’ll say it again. Why is tennis included in the Olympic Games? If history is any guide, the players don’t lift for the occasion. At least, the men anyway.
No one remembers who won the 2004 Men’s Olympic Gold except Nicolas Massu and perhaps Mardy Fish, the player he beat in the final.
I’m pretty sure the top seeds tried to put it out of their mind straight away.
Federer was beaten in the second round and Roddick in the third.
Rewind to Sydney 2000 and home-town hero Hewitt and top-seed Safin were beaten in the first round. Atlanta 1996 saw Agassi win as the top-seed, but Sampras wasn’t there to challenge and second seed Ivanisevic fell at the first hurdle.
Maybe Beijing will be different because there are considerable rankings points on the line. But it still won’t hide the fact that tennis at the Olympics is a joke.
The players are probably already thinking about the US Open starting at the end of the month, and the fact that an early loss can see them prepare properly for the real challenge at Flushing Meadows.
The Olympics are suppose to be the pinnacle for each sport represented.
Would Federer hand in his Wimbledon championships for gold in Beijing? Of course not.
Would Justine Henin hand in her Athens gold medal from 2004 in place of the Wimbledon crown she never won? We all know she would.
So why doesn’t the IOC?
I think tennis does have a place in the Olympics, but only if the format is changed. A Hopman Cup style format – in which each country nominates one man and one woman to play singles and mixed-doubles – would do wonders for the event.
Imagine how the selection of the players for each country would immediately add intrigue?
Would Germany go for Kiefer, Schuettler, Haas or the ever-improving Philipp Kolhschreiber?
Would Serbia go for Ivanovic or Jankovic?
Also, if players like Nadal and Federer lose in Beijing, it won’t affect them much, despite what they say about playing for their country.
If they lose in a Hopman Cup format, suddenly they really are letting the country down if they lose.
Whether it’s aces or races, try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp for great odds and a great punting experience. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.