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Olympic Tennis Comes to Life

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“What’s the point of tennis at the Olympics?” is a question I’m frequently asked, and the argument is always persuasive: “It’s not the pinnacle of the sport”.

It’s hard to disagree - a Grand Slam champion will be remembered more than an Olympic Gold medallist (unless you’re a flash in the pan like Thomas Johansson or Gaston Gaudio).

This week in Beijing I’ve been fortunate to have reported on Badminton, Gymnastics and Handball (plus a jolly to the Swimming) and you undoubtedly feel like you’re watching matters of sporting life and death.

These athletes - relative paupers of international sport - have prepared for four years for their moment in the sun/smog but the Olympic experience can sometimes last only a few minutes. I’ve had Olympians crying into my microphone this week.

The dashing of a dream hurts like crazy, especially when nothing else in your sport compares to the Olympic Games.

Professional Badminton player Anthony Clark revealed on 5Live this week that his biggest prize cheque this season was $1100. He lost in the first round of the mixed doubles in about half an hour. That was it. Dream over.

He must have watched the millionaire tennis players strut their stuff with a jealous eye.

In tennis, there are bigger, richer titles to be won and, for some players, priorities clearly lie elsewhere. The US Open starts a week on Monday and the winner will receive more than $1 million.

But then you turn up at the Olympic Tennis Centre for a fantastic Friday and a super Saturday and emotions are running high. We see how much the dream really means to these superstars.

Rafael Nadal throws himself onto his back to celebrate an outstanding win over Novak Djokovic.

Proud American James Blake, who you feel would trade all his ATP titles for a single Olympic medal, misses three match points against Fernando Gonzalez. One more point and he’d have at least a silver. The next day, he leaves with nothing.

Gonzalez, guaranteed at least the silver medal, sits on his chair in tears.

The next day Djokovic, Blake's conqueror, rips his shirt off to celebrate winning the bronze. He drapes his body in the flag of Serbia and throws the contents of his racket bag into the crowd.

And Dinara Safina returns to the courts less than 12 hours after finishing a match the previous night to win her semi-final. The heart-beating was intense - what an effort.

There are those of us who believe that Olympic tennis in its current form, especially singles, doesn’t really feel right. But then you witness the incredible desire in the final stages and you can’t help but revise your opinion.

And what an incredible spectator experience the tournament has turned out to be for the Beijing locals.

At one point on Friday, Nadal and Djokovic were in the heat of battle on centre court, there was the rare sight of Roger Federer playing doubles on Court 1 while the Williams sisters were chasing another medal out on Court 2.

With a magical backdrop - the distant mountains lit by a glorious sunset - this was the best value ticket in town. Five international household names, all Grand Slam champions, in action simultaneously within a few yards of each other.

These athletes may be millionaires but their efforts and achievements are no less inspiring because of that. Why not ask Gonzalez what provoked the tears?

In the final stages, far from feeling inappropriate at the Olympics, tennis seemed right at home.


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comment by shellmarioancic (U4844826)

posted Aug 16, 2008

If it is about bringing honor and pride to the country in tennis then definitely Olympics is not where it is fought out. Davis Cup is the one for it! Grueling schedule plus the tennis player truly play passionately in Davis Cup. We already know the likes of Hewitt, Rafter,McEnroe, Courier, Sampras put up a herculean effort to win the Davis Cup!! I think Federer is using the Olympics to redeem himself from not playing in Davis Cup.

Honestly I think athletes like Kobe Bryant and Federer do not belong in the Olympics. Primarily because they train and live privately, away from all the Olympians who live in the village. In a sense I feel these guys are taking away lust from the true Olympians! In that sense my hats off to Rafa. Competing in the Olympics like an Olympian!!!

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comment by Borgmad (U13063834)

posted Aug 16, 2008

I think it's fantastic to see Federer win gold and to be so obviously elated about it. Just shows how keen these guys are to be in the Olympics. It's not about money and Grand Slams, it's about being involved in and winning unique events for their country. One thing though - what was Federer doing to Wawrinka at the end on court after they won their match?!

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comment by NoRtHeRnMiDz™ (U3839584)

posted Aug 16, 2008

Federer stayed in the village last time but was hassled by no-marks like Phelps, Pinsent, Holmes etc.

It's not fair to the world's greatest ever sportsman to force him to be stalked and hassled.

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comment by TennismMan (U13060116)

posted Aug 16, 2008

I am amazed at how Federer is being talked down and the only game in town is Nadal.

On this weekend when the Official Number 1 will change for the first time sine February 2004, and the Olympics Tennis draws to a close, surely now is a good time to reflect on the greatest of champions.

TODAY Federer IS STILL OFFICIALLY THE NUMBER ONE RANKED PLAYER.

If this were a Cricket match, we would all be standing up and clapping and cheering the GREAT Roger Federer, for 237 weeks!

Can you imagine the only commentary after Lara batted his World Record 501 runs, being "and here comes the next batsman!"

NO !!

It WOULD all be about the the GREATEST INNINGS of all time!!
The end of a run is not failure it is the mere coming to an end of a great run.
Roger Federer has had just over 4 1/2 years as number one. In the just over 4 1/2 years before that the number one changed 17 times!!!

These included tussles between Andy Roddick, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Andre Aggassi, Lleyton Hewitt, Gustavo Kuerten, Marat Safin, and Pete Sampras.
I doubt we will EVER see such domination again in either the Mens or the Womens rankings. Even Pete Sampras who was THE man of the 90's "only" had a maximum of 102 continuous weeks, in the mid nineties.

Well done Rafa for getting to number one, but even you will not equal the 4 1/2 year run of Federer.

I doubt we will EVER see such domination again.

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comment by BulletMonkey (U7050289)

posted Aug 17, 2008

The joy on Federer's face when he and Warwrinka won proves to be that there's no bitterness, no sign that he's going to throw the towel in just because Nadal's the new top dog. It's great to see that it means so much to them, after all the criticism.

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comment by mango- (U2022591)

posted Aug 17, 2008

who cares? Why bother covering it if it is as rubbish as you say?

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comment by jellybean75 (U8604479)

posted Aug 17, 2008

Federer was lucky to have a partner as strong as Warwrinka to pull him to the gold. Nadal may not do four and a half years at number 1 but he is there on merit and is thoroughly deserving off it so dont take anything away from him. Long live King Rafa

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comment by tennisdoubledee (U8562728)

posted Aug 17, 2008

Jelly i take it you didn't read any of the post match interviews with any of the opponents Stan and Roger beat then? Even though he was not at his best his ground strokes were referred to as sensational, granted his form of late hasn't been good, but to claim that Stan "pulled his to gold" is nonsense and insulting. It takes 2 to win in doubles, funnily enough that why it's called doubles.

Also who isn't claiming Rafa deserves to be No 1 and who's taking anything away from him?? I'm a Fed fan but Rafa's playing has been outstanding and has earned the No 1 spot. Don't start criticizing players unjustly.

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comment by Weak_Era (U11621033)

posted Aug 19, 2008

a flash in the pan, Gaston Gaudio?

never darken these boards again Jonathan

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comment by levdavidovich (U1763634)

posted Aug 30, 2008

What is a "jolly"?

Surely, if all the top players are playing at the same time, then it wouldn't be possible to watch all the games?

I have no idea why the top players go the Olympics - it makes no sense.

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