There’s way more at stake this year outside of the four Grand Slams, with an Olympic Gold up for grabs.
Three years ago in Tokyo, we saw Alexander Zverev and Belinda Bencic take the prize medals, but it could be a very different event this time out with the event taking place at Roland Garros, a venue all of the biggest stars are familiar with.
The French Open will almost act as a rehearsal and the clay surface could really open it up in terms of which players have the best chance of securing a Gold Medal.
With the Olympics around the corner and the French Open still to come, we thought we’d take a look to see who are the biggest contenders, and determining a champion is more difficult than ever before.
For those who want to place a bet on the winner, you’d perhaps have more chance putting your money on 777 slots and trying to seal a win, it’s that tight. Of course, such is life you might not win at all, and for the likes of Novak Djokovic, who has yet to win Gold, that could be the case for him too.
We take a look at the main contenders for the 2024 Olympics…
Men’s Singles
It’s a good idea to look at the French Open odds to see what may be the case when it comes to Paris 2024 and Carlos Alcaraz, who is excellent on clay and picked up a Wimbledon title last year is looking like the main contender.
He reached the semifinals of the French Open in 2023 and is the favourite with the bookies for the title this year, which would hold him in good stead for the Olympic Gold too.
However, it could also be Novak Djokovic’s last opportunity to claim the Gold. He picked up a bronze in 2008 and it’s the only thing missing from his trophy cabinet, something which Andy Murray, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer all have.
Jannik Sinner is another potential having won the Australian Open earlier this year, while Alexander Zverev has a good chance of retaining, while Daniil Medvedev may also as a neutral athlete.
Women’s Singles
The women’s singles Gold really is up for grabs, but it’s WTA No. 1 Iga Swiatek who is leading the way with the bookmakers for the French Open, and will likely do so for the Games. She’s won the French Open three times so will be comfortable on the clay and is certainly the woman to beat.
World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka will be competing as a neutral and is some way off Swiatek.
Coco Gauff will be looking to continue her rise to the top, having won the US Open in 2023 and secured a semifinal spot in the 2024 Australian Open. She’s never competed at a Games and the way she steps up could be a good shout for following in Serena Williams’ footsteps, 12 years on after she secured Gold.
