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Last Updated On: Apr 19, 2025 05:59 PM , Published On: Jul 25, 2024 07:24 AM
One of the most anticipated Olympic sports in Paris 2024 is tennis, where a star-studded field of old and new competitors will compete for gold medals. The men's and women's divisions will see intense battles.
The most talented male tennis player in history, Novak Djokovic, will choose to focus his career in Paris on winning more Grand Slams. He is the only male athlete with at least 20 Grand Slam championships who has never worn gold atop the Olympic stage.
Carlos Alcaraz is a Spanish player who has already claimed four Grand Slams and recently won back-to-back major championships at the French Open and Wimbledon. He is now the front-runner to win gold in his debut Olympics.
Here, we will discuss the top Tennis players to watch:
Novak Djokovic – Serbia
As Serbia's captain, Djokovic guided his team to its first-ever Davis Cup victory in 2010 and its first-ever ATP Cup victory in 2020. Additionally, in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he won the bronze medal for his nation.
On April 9, 2006, Djokovic defeated Greg Rusedski in four sets in the fourth tie match to secure a convincing Davis Cup victory over Great Britain.
Currently ranked second in the international tennis rankings, he owns the record for the most weeks as number one, held by Italy's Jannik Sinner. Having already won a record 24 Grand Slam titles, the Olympics offer the Serbian one final opportunity to make an impact.
With his great flexibility, court coverage, and movement, Djokovic has been called one of the fittest and strongest athletes in sports history. This allows him to score wins from apparently tricky positions.
Carlos Alcaraz – Spain
The six head-to-head meetings between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz have resulted in a 3-3 draw. While Djokovic defeated Alcaraz in the 2023 ATP Finals semi-final, each has won at a Masters and premier tournament once.
In his third career grass court match, he won his first title at the Queen's Club Championships, defeating Alex de Minaur in the championship match. His victory in the London competition also moved him back to the top of the world rankings.
After winning the 2024 French Open at Roland-Garros, the exact clay court location that will host the Paris Olympics, Alcaraz is the majority favorite to win gold in the men's singles division.
Alcaraz is expected to compete in doubles tennis at the Olympics with his counterpart Rafael Nadal, so there's a strong possibility he'll leave Paris with two gold medals.
Naomi Osaka – Japan
All eyes will be on Osaka as she looks to get revenge for her dismal third-round loss at the previous Olympics in her home country of Japan, following hometown heartbreak at Tokyo 2020.
In 2017, Osaka made her Japan Fed Cup appearance in Group I of the Asia Zone competition. Japan became the winner of their round-robin pool after winning all nine rubber matches. In the play-off match against Kazakhstan, Osaka succeeded in her singles match.
Together with Yūichi Sugita, Osaka made her Hopman Cup appearance in 2018. It was Japan's first time participating in the exhibition competition since 2001. Another notable moment was her serve of an ace past Roger Federer in the doubles mix match against Switzerland.
Osaka plays aggressively at the baseline. Her forehand and serve are particularly impressive due to her exceptional raw power. At sixteen years old, Osaka could hit forehands reaching 160 km/h speeds.
Iga Swiatek – Poland
The current world number one, Swiatek, is the clear favorite in the women's singles at Roland-Garros in Paris after winning three straight French Open titles. Only two months after winning her first French Open championship, the Pole lost in the second round of the Tokyo Olympics 3 years ago.
In 2018, Swiatek participated in her first senior Billie Jean King Cup while Poland was in Group I of the Europe/Africa Zone. With a 6-2 singles record and a 2-1 doubles record, Swiatek is 9-3 in the Fed Cup.
Swiatek played against Switzerland in 2024, winning two singles matches and helping Poland win 4–0, securing Poland's spot in the November Finals in Seville for a record 3 times.
8 times in her WTA career as of June 2024, she has served the more unusual double bagel, but just two of those times happened during a significant tournament.
Rafael Nadal – Spain
Rafael Nadal decided to withdraw from the Wimbledon Championships this year, stating that he wanted to concentrate on the Olympics. The 22-time Grand Slam champion is believed to compete in the Paris singles and doubles competitions.
At the Spanish Championship in Majadahonda in July, Nadal moved to his first-ever national final after defeating the winner and runner-up of the previous event.
Rafael Nadal defeated Younes El Aynaoui in the second round of the US Open after winning the first round, making history as one of the tournament's youngest winners.
He won both of his Davis Cup matches against Italy and defeated Coria in the China Open final in Beijing in September. His fourth Masters victory of the year came in October.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Where can I watch football at the Olympics in Paris?
The 2024 Games will only be covered by BBC One and BBC Two on the BBC's free-to-air networks. All of the action from Paris is also available to watch live on BBC iPlayer.
Q. In 2024, will Carlos Alcaraz be competing in the Olympics?
Alcaraz and Nadal will compete in men's doubles in Paris's planned 2024 Summer Olympics. Alcaraz and Nadal are among the most formidable combinations in the men's doubles division.
Q. What is the duration of Carlos Alcaraz's professional tennis career?
At the age of fifteen, Alcaraz started his professional career in 2018. He won four championships on the ATP Challenger Tour and three on the ITF Men's World Tennis Tour.