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You Might Be Surprised How Many Times The World’s No. 1 Has Won Olympic Gold In Men’s Singles…

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By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

If you want to win the Olympic gold medal in men’s singles, you may not want to enter the Games ranked No. 1 in the world.

Since tennis returned to the Olympic program in 1988, no man ranked No. 1 in the ATP rankings has won the men’s singles gold medal. With world No. 1 Jannik Sinner pulling out of 024 Olympic tennis competition with tonsillitis, the world No. 1 man will again not have a gold medal around their neck.

Two woman have won Olympic gold in singles as the WTA No. 1  – Steffi Graf in her “Golden Slam” season in 1988 and Justine Henin in 2004. Iga Swiatek, the No. 1 ranked woman, is the big favorite to win Olympic gold in women’s singles in 2024.

Let’s look at how the world No. 1 men and how they have fared at Olympic tennis since 1988.

2021 – Novak Djokovic lost in the semifinals to Alexander Zverev

2016 – Novak Djokovic lost in the first round to Juan Martin del Potro

2012 – Roger Federer lost in the Gold Medal match to Andy Murray

2008 – Roger Federer lost in the quarterfinals to James Blake

2004 – Roger Federer lost in the second round to Tomas Berdych

2000 – Marat Safin lost in the first round to Fabrice Santoro

1996 – Pete Sampras withdrew from the event due to injury

1992 – Jim Courier lost in the second round to Marc Rosset

1988 – Mats Wilander did not enter the competition

The following are more detailed looks at the loses by the No. 1 ranked men in Olympic tennis, as documented in my ebook “The Olympic Tennis Fact Book” which is for download here: https://a.co/d/dKmkR0z

July 30, 2021 – Novak Djokovic’s dream of Olympic Gold and a Golden Grand Slam ends in a shock 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 semifinal loss to Alexander Zverev at the Tokyo Olympics. Djokovic, the winner of the Australian, French and Wimbledon titles earlier in the year, leads 6-1 and up a service break at 3-2 before Zverev goes on a tear to win ten of the last 11 games of the match. “I told him that he’s the greatest of all time, and he will be,” Zverev says of his post-match exchange with Djokovic at the net. “I know that he was chasing history, chasing the golden slam and was chasing the Olympics, but in these kind of moments me and Novak are very close. Of course I’m happy that I’ve won, but at the end of the day I know how Novak feels.”

August 7, 2016 – Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, ranked No. 141 in the world and coming back to tennis after four surgeries on his wrist, registers a stunning 7-6 (4) 7-6 (2) first-round upset of world No. 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “I didn’t expect to beat him,” said del Potro of Djokovic, who he beat to win the bronze medal four years earlier at the London Games at Wimbledon. “I’m surprised with the level I showed. After all the effort I’ve put in to get back to playing tennis, I’ve defeated the No. 1.”

August 5, 2012 – Four weeks after losing a heart-breaking Wimbledon singles final to Roger Federer, Andy Murray of Britain turns the tables on the very same court in dramatic fashion, easily defeating the seven-time Wimbledon singles champion 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 to win the Olympic gold medal in men’s tennis. Federer was not quite 100 percent fit after his 3-6, 7-6 (5) 19-17 victory over Juan Martin del Potro in four hours and 26 minutes

August 14, 2008 – World No. 1 Roger Federer of Switzerland is upset in the quarterfinals of the 2008 Olympic in Beijing, losing to American James Blake 6-4, 7-6 (2). “Big disappointment, obviously,” says Federer, a 12-time major winner but without an Olympic medal. “It was one of the goals of the season to do well here. The quarterfinals is not going to do it.” The

August 17,  2004 – In a self-described “terrible day,” Roger Federer’s Olympic dreams come to an end in a matter of hours as the Swiss is eliminated from both the singles and doubles competitions at the Athens Olympics. In singles, Federer is dismissed in the second round by unheralded No. 74-ranked Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 4-6, 7-5, 7-5. In doubles, an hour after his singles loss, he and partner Yves Allegro, lose to Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes of India 6-2, 7-6 (7). “What can I say? It’s a terrible day for me, losing singles and doubles,” Federer says. “Obviously, I was aiming for a better result than this, but that’s what I got. So I have to live with it.”

September 20, 2000 – Just one week after being crowned U.S. Open champion, No. 1 seeded Marat Safin of Russia, bows out in the first round of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, losing to Fabrice Santoro of France 1-6, 6-1, 6-4. Safin takes the court barely 24 hours after arriving in Sydney from Uzbekistan, where Safin won the President’s Cup in Tashkent.

July 15, 1996 – Pete Sampras and Steffi Graf, the No. 1 ranked man and woman in the world, withdraw from the 1996 Olympic tennis competition due to injuries. Sampras withdrew due to an injury to his Achilles tendon, while Graf was forced out of the competition due to a injured left knee.

August 1, 1992 – No. 1 seed and reigning French and Australian Open champion Jim Courier of the United States is dismissed in the second round of the Barcelona Olympics, winning only seven games in a 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 loss to eventual gold medalist Marc Rosset of Switzerland. Said U.S. Olympic coach Tom Gorman when asked by reporters what happened in the match, “I wish I knew. He was looking like he was in prime shape to win a gold medal.”

Carson – Not UCLA – To Be Tennis Venue For Potential Los Angeles Olympic Tennis Competition

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By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

 

Should Los Angeles win the bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games, the tennis competition would be held at the StubHub Tennis Center in Carson, Calif., and not at UCLA, site of the 1984 Olympic tennis demonstration event.

In the bid book for the 2024 Olympics that officials released this week, the 7,000-seat stadium in Carson, that hosted a WTA Tour event from 2003 to 2009, will be the site for Olympic tennis. The facility also hosted the 2005 Davis Cup first round between the United States and Croatia, won by Croatia 3-2 in Andre Agassi’s final Davis Cup series.

At the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, tennis was a demonstration event and was held at the tennis stadium at UCLA, also the site of the former Los Angeles Open, a long-time ATP singles event that was sold in 2012. Steffi Graf and Stefan Edberg won gold medals in the ’84 demonstration event, four years before tennis returned as a full Olympic sport after 64 years in 1988.

Los Angeles has taken over for Boston as the U.S. Olympic Committee’s American bid city for the 2024 Games.

To read about the history of Olympic Tennis, download the Olympic Tennis ebook here: http://www.amazon.com/Olympic-Tennis-Historical-Randy-Walker-ebook/dp/B008EOXW40/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1440697176&sr=8-1&keywords=Olympic+Tennis+Randy+walker

 

Carson Tennis
Carson Tennis

 

Dream Finals at Olympic Tennis at Wimbledon: Andy Murray vs. Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova vs. Serena Williams

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By Randy Walker

 

Olympic tennis at Wimbledon has not disappointed.

Two dream Olympic gold medal matches are on tap this weekend as Serena Williams of United States will take on Maria Sharapova of Russia for gold in women’s singles Saturday, while Roger Federer of Switzerland will face Britain’s Andy Murray for men’s singles gold on Sunday.

Williams continued her dominant play on the grass courts of the All England Club defeating world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 6-2 Friday, advancing into the gold medal match, losing only 16 games in five matches. Sharapova, playing in her first Olympics, beat fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko 6-2, 6-3 in the other semifinal. Murray ensured Britain’s first Olympic tennis medal since Tim Henman and Neil Broad won silver in men’s doubles in 1996 with his 7-5, 7-5 defeat of No. 2 seed Novak Djokovic. Federer edged Juan Martin del Potro 3-6, 7-6 (5), 19-17 in four hours, 26 minutes in the other men’s semifinal, documented here: http://www.worldtennismagazine.com/archives/7566

While the Williams-Sharapova match may be the gold medal match-up featuring the two most famous female athletes on the planet – both of whom are seeking the historic distinction of winning a “Career Golden Grand Slam” – it was the men’s event that stole the spotlight Friday with the two dramatic semifinal matches.

Murray caused pandemonium among his home-nation crowd by beating the No. 2-seeded Djokovic, setting up a re-match of the Wimbledon men’s singles final from last month against Federer. Murray was the first Brit in 74 years to play in the Wimbledon men’s singles final, but lost in four tough sets to Federer, who won his record-tying seventh Wimbledon title and record enhancing 17th major singles title. Murray received enormous attention in that loss for the tears of disappointment he shed during the post-match ceremony.

While Murray was trying to end the tremendous drought of a British men’s singles champion at Wimbledon, the number of years since a Brit last won Olympic gold in men’s singles is even greater. It was in 1908 also at a London-hosted Games when Britain last won Olympic gold in men’s singles when Josiah Ritchie won men’s singles gold at the All England Club, but at the old Worple Road facility that hosted The Championships until 1922. In 1908, an indoor tennis event was also held at the London Games, held many weeks earlier than the outdoor event. That was also won by a Brit, Arthur Gore, in an competition played indoors at the Queen’s Club in downtown London.

In the midst of the post-match British pandemonium and celebration, Murray told John McEnroe on BRAVO TV in the United States that his win over Djokovic was “probably the most emotional match I have ever played” and labeled the spirit and enthusiasm of the British crowd at Wimbledon “more like a rock concert than a tennis match.” When asked to focus on the task at hand – beating Federer for Olympic gold – Murray said to McEnroe, “I want to beat him this time. That’s the plan.”

Andy Murray
Andy Murray

Murray did not drop his serve in the entire match against Djokovic and broke once in each set in the 12th game.

In the women’s final, whoever wins between Williams and Sharapova Saturday will join Steffi Graf as the only woman to complete a “Career Golden Grand Slam” – winning all four major singles titles and the Olympics in a career. Steffi Graf, of course, achieved that all in one year, in 1988, capping her Grand Slam with her gold medal run in Seoul. Sharapova has won each major title once and completed a her career Grand Slam when she won the French Open in June. If she defeats Williams on Saturday, she will also regain the No. 1 ranking from Azarenka.

“It’s been amazing to achieve what I have achieved,” said Sharapova, who missed the 2008 Olympics due to a serious shoulder injury that threatened her career. “Obviously growing up you have big dreams and hopes of winning your certain favorite tournaments. I’ve been fortunate to win all the Grand Slams, and obviously this is my first Olympics, so I’m just thrilled to be in the final.”

Williams owns two gold medals in women’s doubles from the 2000 and 2008 Games, won with her sister Venus, but this is the first year she will win a singles medal. She has also won 14 major singles championships, the most of any active woman, including her fifth Wimbledon singles a month ago.

“I’m just enjoying myself,” Williams said. “It’s just a great vibe to have the USA fans and all the other countries’ fans that come out and root really, really hard. It’s an unbelievable experience.”

Williams  had 16 aces against Azarenka and just five unforced errors.

“When you’re playing the best player in the world, you’ve got to play well,” Williams said. “I felt like I had nothing to lose — just going for it.”

Sharapova had a 35-7 advantage in winners over Kirilenko but still had to rally in the second set, sweeping the final four games.

“Obviously it’s tough to play a Russian on the other side of the net, but I’m happy that one of us can go for gold,” Sharapova said. “It’s incredible, not only to be a part of this event and be an Olympian, but to put yourself in with an opportunity to go for gold. It’s a really nice feeling.”

Azarenka will play Kirilenko for the bronze Saturday. Djokovic will play del Potro on Sunday for the bronze. Djokovic won the bronze in 2008.

In men’s doubles, the No. 1 seeded Bryan brothers – Bob and Mike – from the United States will play for gold against France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Michael Llodra – the French team advancing into the gold medal match with a dramatic 6-3, 4-6, 18-16 win over Spain’s Feliciano Lopez and David Ferrer. Ferrer and Lopez will play for bronze against France’s Richard Gasquet and Julien Benneteau, who lost to the Bryans 6-4, 6-4.

In women’s doubles, top seeds Lisa Raymond and Liezel Huber of the United States were defeated by the Czech team of Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka. The Czechs may face Serena Williams and Venus Williams in the gold medal match in a rematch of the Wimbledon women’s doubles final, but the Williams sisters semifinal match against Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova of Russia was postponed due to the schedule delay due to the length of the Federer-del Potro final.

To read more about the history of Olympic tennis, records, results and anecdotes, download this Amazon.com Kindle ebook “Olympic Tennis: An Historical Snapshot” here: http://www.amazon.com/Olympic-Tennis-Historical-Snapshot-ebook/dp/B008EOXW40/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344028748&sr=8-1&keywords=Olympic+Tennis+Randy+Walker

 

Net-Cord Winner on Match Point Moves Roger Federer Passed John Isner

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By Randy Walker

 

Two swings of the racquet was the razor thin difference between Roger Federer and John Isner in the quarterfinals of men’s singles at Olympic Tennis on Centre Court at Wimbledon Thursday.

In a battle of the two best servers in tennis today, Federer, the world No. 1, topped the American No. 1, 6-4, 7-6(5) – with Federer benefiting from a net-cord winner that dribbled over onto Isner’s side of the net off a return of serve on match point.

The only service break of the entire match came at 4-4 in the first set when Isner missed a sitter forehand on break point, allowing Federer to serve out the first set 6-4.

The win for Federer places him into the medal round at the Olympics and will next face Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro in the semifinals. Novak Djokovic, the No. 2 seed, will face Andy Murray of Great Britain, the No. 3 seed, in the other men’s semifinal.

Del Potro famously beat Federer in the 2009 US Open singles final, but has lost 12 of the 14 matches they have played, including all five matches this year.

“I have his number this year which is a good thing,” said Federer post-match on Bravo TV in the United States, also pointing out that in their last meeting, del Potro led two-sets-to-love in the French Open quarterfinals but faltered losing in five sets.

Federer, who won his record-tying seventh Wimbledon singles title last month, will look to become the first No. 1 ranked player to win the Olympic gold in men’s singles and win that title for the first time in his career. He did capture Olympic gold in 2008 in men’s doubles alongside Stan Wawrinka, but his best showing in singles came in 2000 when he finished in fourth place. In 2000, three years before he won the first of his 17 major singles titles, a 19-year-old Federer lost to Tommy Haas in the men’s semifinals and unheralded Arnaud DiPasquale of France in the bronze medal match.

Roger Federer
Roger Federer

Novak Djokovic of Serbia, the 2011 Wimbledon singles champion and the bronze medal winner in men’s singles from 2008, advanced to the semifinals with a 6-1, 7-5 win over Jo Wilfried Tsonga of France. Murray, being cheered on by Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton, defeated Nicolas Almagro of Spain 6-4, 6-1, hitting 15 aces. Del Potro defeated Japan’s Kei Nishkori 6-4, 7-6 (4) to advance to play Federer.

To read more about Federer and his “Olympic Experiences” read this excerpt from the book ROGER FEDERER: QUEST FOR PERFECTION here on WorldTennisMagazine.com: http://www.worldtennismagazine.com/archives/7395

88-Year Reign of Olympic Mixed Doubles Champion and Titanic Survivor About To End

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Mixed doubles has returned to the Olympic tennis program in 2012, ending the 88-year Olympic mixed doubles gold medal “reign” of two-time U.S. singles champion Dick Williams, a survivor of the sinking of the Titanic 100 years ago.

Williams won Olympic gold in the mixed doubles competition at the 1924 Olympics in Paris with Hazel Wightman, defeating fellow Americans Vincent Richards and Marion Jessup in the final. Tennis was subsequently taken off the Olympic program until 1988 with mixed doubles returning as a medal competition at the 2012 Games.

The survival of Williams from the Titanic disaster 100 years ago – and his triumph two years later at the U.S. Championships – is narrated in the book TITANIC: THE TENNIS STORY by Lindsay Gibbs.

Gibbs told the OLYMPIC NEWS SERVICE that Williams was very close to pulling out of the mixed doubles competition in 1924 due to injury.

“During his run to the gold medal he actually tore a ligament in his ankle,” Gibbs said to the OLYMPIC NEWS SERVICE. “He wanted to withdraw from the competition, but his teammate Wightman refused. She told him that if he covered the net she would run everything down on the baseline. Clearly, the strategy was effective and he always attributed the win to her.”

TITANIC: THE TENNIS STORY ($12.95, New Chapter Press, available here: http://www.mailermailer.com/rd?http://www.amazon.com/dp/0942257626?tag=tennisgrancom-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0942257626&adid=1VDNE7FP6P2ERTBCKQ49&&ref-refURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennisgrandstand.com%2F) narrates the tale of Williams and his fellow American tennis player Karl Behr, who both survived the most famous and talked about sea disaster in 1912. The two met on the rescue ship Carpathia and went on to become teammates on the U.S. Davis Cup team and, incredibly, faced each other in the quarterfinals of the 1914 U.S. Championships (the modern-day US Open.)

Titantic: The Tennis Story by Lindsay Gibbs
Titantic: The Tennis Story by Lindsay Gibbs

Williams nearly had his legs amputated after surviving hours in the frigid water, hanging on to a collapsed lifeboat after jumping from the sinking ship. Behr first asked his girlfriend Helen Newsom to marry him on the Titanic and survived by luck – allowed into the second lifeboat before passengers realized the gravity of the event.

“He wasn’t on the operating table or anything, but it (amputation) was certainly the suggested treatment,” Gibbs said to the OLYMPIC NEWS SERVICE. “When he first got onto the Carpathia he was fed breakfast and had a sip of brandy then found a spot in the kitchen of the Carpathia between the stove and wall to take a nap.

“When he woke up he was in immense pain with his legs and he hobbled to find a doctor. All the official doctors on the Carpathia were busy, but he came across a passenger who practiced medicine.

“He was advised, in a rather cheery manner he recalled, to have his legs amputated. He asked if there were any other options and the man suggested that he could attempt to walk through the pain. So he did – and it worked.”

Williams, whose father was killed on the Titanic, became a star at Harvard, a two-time U.S. singles champion (1914, 1916) and a Wimbledon doubles champion in 1920 in addition to winning his Olympic mixed doubles gold in 1924. He was a long-time resident of Philadelphia and passed away in 1968. Behr, from New York, was a standout player at Yale and a Wimbledon doubles finalist in 1907. He passed away in 1949.

The book is the first novel for Gibbs, originally from Greensboro, North Carolina, now a resident of New York. She has also written a screenplay based on her book.

TITANIC: THE TENNIS STORY is also available for download on Amazon.com’s KINDLE here: http://www.mailermailer.com/rd?http://www.amazon.com/Titanic-The-Tennis-Story-ebook/dp/B0087GZGTO/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1343825273&sr=1-1

Founded in 1987, New Chapter Press (www.NewChapterMedia.com) is also the publisher of “Roger Federer: Quest for Perfection” by Rene Stauffer (www.RogerFedererBook.com), “The Bud Collins History of Tennis” by Bud Collins, “The Education of a Tennis Player” by Rod Laver with Bud Collins, “The Wimbledon Final That Never Was” by Sidney Wood, “Acing Depression: A Tennis Champion’s Toughest Match” by Cliff Richey and Hilaire Richey Kallendorf (www.CliffRicheyBook.com), “The Greatest Tennis Matches of All Time” by Steve Flink, “Jan Kodes: A Journey To Glory From Behind The Iron Curtain” by Jan Kodes with Peter Kolar, “Tennis Made Easy” by Kelly Gunterman, “On This Day In Tennis History” by Randy Walker (www.TennisHistoryBook.com), “A Player’s Guide To USTA League Tennis” by Tony Serksnis, “Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games” by Tom Caraccioli and Jerry Caraccioli (www.Boycott1980.com), “The Lennon Prophecy” by Joe Niezgoda (www.TheLennonProphecy.com), “Bone Appetit, Gourmet Cooking For Your Dog” by Susan Anson, “How To Sell Your Screenplay” by Carl Sautter, “The Rules of Neighborhood Poker According To Hoyle” by Stewart Wolpin, “People’s Choice Guide Cancun” by Eric Rabinowitz, “Lessons from the Wild” by Shayamal Vallabhjee among others.

Murray, Sharapova Thrive, Radwanska Falters in Olympic Tennis under Wimbledon Roof

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By Randy Walker

 

For the first time in 100 years, Olympic tennis was played indoors.

The roof on Centre Court at Wimbledon – complete with its own @WimbledonRoof Twitter profile – was closed Sunday on the second day of Olympic tennis as torrential rains hammered the All England Club.

It marked the first time since 1912 when the Stockholm Games had a separate indoor tennis event that Olympic tennis was played indoors. The 1912 and 1908 Olympic Games, curiously, held both indoor and outdoor tennis competitions.

Julia Goerges of Germany and No. 2 seed Agnieska Radwanska of Poland had the distinction of playing the historic first indoor match of the day at the All England Club, with Goerges registering the biggest upset so far of the Games defeating the 2012 Wimbledon runner-up 7-5, 6-7, 6-4.

Also under the Wimbledon roof, No. 4 seed Andy Murray, making his return to Centre Court three weeks after being the first Brit to reach the Wimbledon men’s final in 74 years, defeated Swiss flag-bearer Stan Wawrinka 6-3, 6-3. Murray and Warinka, in fact, played the first complete match under the roof in Wimbledon history back in 2009, Murray winning 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 in a round of 16 match that concluded at 10:39 pm.

Andy Murray
Andy Murray

Maria Sharapova made her long-awaited Olympic debut also under the roof, defeating Israel’s Shahar Peer 6-2, 6-0. Sharapova said “I have been waiting for this moment since I was a little girl,” of her Olympic debut to Rennae Stubbs courtside following the match on Bravo TV. Sharapova did not compete in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, shortly after her breakthrough victory as a 17-year-old at Wimbledon, and was forced to withdraw from the 2008 Beijing Games due to her shoulder injury that hampered her career for the better part of two years.

With many first-round singles and doubles matches postponed due to the inclement weather, Olympic officials may become hard-pressed to finish the Olympic tennis event on time should rain further rain postpone a significant number of matches this week. For full Olympic tennis results and schedule information, go to www.ITFTennis.com.

When Olympic tennis was last played indoors back in 1912 in Stockholm, it was the most popular event of the Games with spectators lining up for three hours to get glimpses of the matches. The Swedish Royal family attended the matches daily. Andre Gobert of France was the surprise gold medalist in indoor men’s singles, defeating Britain’s Charles Dixon in the final. Dixon upset Wimbledon champion Tony Wilding of New Zealand in the semifinals – Wilding settling for a bronze medal. The women’s indoor tennis field only featured eight players, Edith Hannam of Britain emerging with the gold medal defeating Sophie Castenschiold of Denmark 6-4, 6-3 after trailing 0-3 in both sets.

As documented in the Kindle Ebook Olympic Tennis: An Historical Snapshot (available here for $2.99 http://www.amazon.com/Olympic-Tennis-Historical-Snapshot-ebook/dp/B008EOXW40/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343581861&sr=1-1&keywords=Olympic+Tennis) at the 1908 London Games, the indoor event was held in May at the Queens Club, while the All England Club on Worple Road conducted an outdoor event after the Wimbledon Championships were held in July. At the indoor event, Great Britain and Sweden were the only competing nations as Britain’s Arthur Gore defeated teammate George Caridia to win the gold medal in men’s singles. Gore would follow up his Olympic success by winning the men’s singles title at Wimbledon two months later. In women’s singles, Gladys Eastlake-Smith beat countrywomen Alice Greene to win gold, then got married two days later!

 

A Look Back at Olympic Tennis in 1924

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By Randy Walker

 

As the tennis world collectively catches its breath after one of the most amazing Wimbledon fortnight’s in its history and gears up for another run on the lawns of the All England Lawn Tennis Club for the Olympic Games, it is interesting to note that it was 88 years ago on July 13, 1924, when play began in the tennis competition at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris.

The 1924 Olympics were a celebrated Games, documented most notably in the Academy Award-winning film “Chariots of Fire,” but it also marked the final Olympiad that featured tennis before a 64-year hiatus. As documented in the new KINDLE ebook “Olympic Tennis: An Historical Snapshot” available for sale here: http://www.amazon.com/Olympic-Tennis-Historical-Snapshot-ebook/dp/B008EOXW40/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342097225&sr=8-1&keywords=Olympic+Tennis+Randy+Walkertennis stars Bill Tilden and Suzanne Lenglen were the two major sensations in the sporting world in the1920s but were absent from the courts at the Paris Games. However, a more incredible story transpired as Dick Williams, who survived the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 – and almost having his legs amputated – paired with Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman to win gold in the mixed doubles competition. The pair beat teammates Marion Jessup and Vincent Richards 6-2, 6-3 to win gold.

Hazel Wightman
Hazel Wightman

On March 11, 1924,Tilden announced that he will not represent the United States in the Paris Games. Tilden’s reasoning is that even if he wanted to play for the United States, the U.S. Olympic rule that forbids athletes from writing for newspapers prevents him from competing since he is contracted to write two articles per week for various outlets. Wrote the New York Times on the day “The tennis champion had never definitely announced that he would go abroad this year if picked for the Olympic team. Two months ago, Tilden said he did not think he would go because of the sharp competition expected in the national singles and in the Davis Cup matches. He said he regarded the Davis Cup competition more important than the Olympics and that he felt he could husband his strength for those matches in the event he is to be one of the contestants.” The USLTA also had enacted a similar rule for amateur tennis, but it is not scheduled to take effect until Jan. 1, 1925.

Lenglen withdrew from the competition in the capital city of her home country due to illness. She did, however, attend select sessions of the competition. Reported the Associated Press on the first day of the 1924 competition, “Suzanne Lenglen, the world’s champion, watched some of the matches until the sun became too uncomfortably warm for her. She looked thinner than usual. Mlle. Lenglen said she still felt ill and her appearance bore out her statement.”

The benefactors of Tilden and Lenglen’s withdrawals in 1924? Vincent Richards, Tilden’s Davis Cup teammate who won singles gold over France’s Henri Cochet, and Helen Wills, who won the singles competition over France’s Didi Vlasto.

Following the Paris Games, the International Tennis Federation – the international governing body for tennis – and the International Olympic Committee saw differences on the definition of amateurism, and on whether Wimbledon should be played in Olympic years. What resulted was the exclusion of tennis from the Olympic Games as an official medal sport until 1988 in Seoul, South Korea.

The 1924 Olympic tennis competition marked the first time, prior to the 2012 Games, where mixed doubles was contested. The narrative of Williams, the mixed doubles gold medalist, and his survival from the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 and his triumph two years later at the U.S. Championships is documented in the book “Titanic: The Tennis Story,” available here: http://www.amazon.com/Titanic-Tennis-Story-Lindsay-Gibbs/dp/1937559041/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342097468&sr=8-1&keywords=Titanic+The+Tennis+Story

The full medal scroll – including results – from the 1924 Olympic tennis competition can be seen below.

1924 – PARIS, FRANCE

MEDALISTS

Men’s Singles

GOLD –Vincent Richards (United States)

SILVER — Henri Cochet (France)

BRONZE — Umberto Luigi de Morpurgo (Italy)

 

Men’s Doubles

GOLD — Vincent Richards and Frank Hunter (United States)

SILVER — Jacques Brugnon and Henri Cochet (France)

BRONZE — Jean Borotra and Rene Lacoste (France)

 

Women’s Singles

GOLD — Helen Wills (United States)

SILVER — Didi Vlastro (France)

BRONZE — Kitty McKane (Great Britain)

 

Women’s Doubles

GOLD — Helen Wills and Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman (United States)

SILVER — Kitty McKane and Dorothy Covell (Great Britain)

BRONZE — Evelyn Colyer and Dorothy Shepherd Barron (Great Britain)

 

Mixed Doubles

GOLD — Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman and R. Norris Williams (United States)

SILVER — Marion Jessup and Vincent Richards (United States)

BRONZE — Hendrik Timmer and Cornelia Bouman (Netherlands)

 

RESULTS

Men’s Singles Gold Medal Match — Vincent Richards (United States) def. Henri Cochet (France), 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 5-7, 6-2.

Men’s Singles Bronze Medal Match – Umberto Luigi de Morpurgo (Italy) def. Jean Borotra (France), 1-6, 6-1, 8-6, 4-6, 7-5

Men’s Doubles Gold Medal Match — Vincent Richards and Frank Hunter (United States) def. Jacques Brugnon and Henri Cochet (France), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.

Women’s Singles Gold Medal Match— Helen Wills (United States) def. Didi Vlastro (France), 6-2, 6-2.

Women’s Doubles Gold Medal Match — Helen Wills and Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman (United States) def. Kitty McKane and Dorothy Covell (Great Britain), 7-5, 8-6.

Mixed Doubles Gold Medal Match — Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman and R. Norris Williams (United States) def. Marion Jessup and Vincent Richards (United States), 6-2, 6-3.

 

Mary Joe Fernandez and Jay Berger named coaches of 2012 U.S. Olympics tennis teams

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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., June 5, 2012 – The USTA, the governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S., announced today that U.S. Fed Cup Captain Mary Joe Fernandez and Jay Berger, USTA Player Development Head of Men’s Tennis, have been named as the women’s and men’s coaches for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Tennis Teams. In addition, Dan James, Head U.S. National Wheelchair Team Coach, has been named coach for the U.S. Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis Team.

Mary Joe Fernandez (L) and Jay Berger (R) named 2012 U.S. Olympic tennis team coaches

The 2012 Olympic Games will be held July 27 – August 12 in London, England, with the tennis competition being staged July 28 – August 5 at the All England Lawn Tennis Club at Wimbledon. The 2012 Paralympic Games will be held August 29 – September 9 in London with the tennis competition scheduled for September 1-8 at Eton Manor in the Olympic Park. The Olympic competition will begin 20 days after the completion of The Wimbledon Championships.

“With Olympic tennis being held at the hallowed grounds of Wimbledon, the Olympics add another dimension to what will be a memorable summer of tennis,” said Jon Vegosen, Chairman of the Board and President, USTA. “Tennis as a sport benefits greatly from being showcased on such a prestigious international stage as the Olympics. Each of the coaches who will be representing the U.S. brings experience as an accomplished player and coach, with a unique ability to connect with the athletes to lead our quest for 2012 gold.”

“I’m honored and thrilled to be selected as the Olympic coach,” said Fernandez, who led the U.S. Fed Cup team to the final in two of her first three years as Captain. “Some of my fondest tennis memories are from the Olympics and the incomparable thrill of winning a gold medal. I would like nothing more than to share in that Olympic experience with our team this summer.”

“We have some very strong players who should all be medal contenders in London,” said Berger, who has been the USTA Player Development Head of Men’s Tennis since 2008. “I know the American men have been looking forward to competing for gold at Wimbledon, and will relish the opportunity to compete on one of the biggest stages in sport.”

The 2012 U.S. Olympic Tennis Team will consist of up to six men and six women, with a maximum of four men and four women competing in the singles competition and a maximum of two men’s and two women’s teams competing in doubles. The U.S. will also be able to place a maximum of two mixed doubles teams in the competition, which will be contested at the Olympic Games for the first time. Olympic Team nominations will be made using the ATP World Tour and WTA rankings as of June 11. All team and staff nominations are subject to approval by the U.S. Olympic Committee.

The United States has won 17 Olympic medals in men’s and women’s tennis since its return as a full medal sport in 1988 – more than any other nation. U.S. players have won 12 medals at the Paralympic Games, including a gold and a bronze in 2008.

The 2012 U.S. Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis Team will consist of a maximum of four men and four women in the wheelchair singles competition, with no more than two doubles teams in the wheelchair doubles competition. In the quad wheelchair competition (limited movement or strength in at least three extremities), a maximum of three players may compete in the event, with a maximum of three in the singles event and one team in the doubles event. Team nominations will be based on ITF Wheelchair Tennis World Rankings as of May 21, 2012, and are subject to approval by the USOC.

“The Paralympics is the ultimate platform for worldwide competition among outstanding wheelchair athletes,” said James. “It is a tremendous privilege to coach at the highest level of international play and I am eager to begin our quest for medals.”

Wheelchair tennis was introduced to the Paralympic program in 1988 as an exhibition event before becoming a full medal sport at the 1992 Paralympic Games in Barcelona. Paralympic tennis is an open competition, eligible to those athletes with a mobility-related disability and all competitors must compete in a wheelchair.

The USTA was officially designated by the USOC as the national governing body for the Paralympic sport of wheelchair tennis in June 2002, becoming the first Olympic national governing body to earn this recognition. As the national governing body for wheelchair tennis, the USTA manages wheelchair tennis in the United States, including the sanctioning of tournaments, overseeing the ranking systems, creating and managing a High Performance program for developing elite disabled athletes and coaches. The U.S. Olympic Committee will approve all team and staff selections.

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The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level — from local communities to the highest level of the professional game.  A not-for-profit organization with more than 785,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, the highest attended annual sporting event in the world, and launched the Emirates Airline US Open Series linking 10 summer tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns the approximately 90 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S, and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA philanthropic entity, USTA Serves, provides grants and scholarships and helps underserved youth and people with disabilities. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com, “like” the official Facebook page facebook.com/usta or follow @usta on Twitter.

Revolutionary New Grass-Court Technique for 2010 Olympic Games: This Week in Tennis Business

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By Bob Stockton

* A revolutionary new technique will be implemented at the All England Club in 2012 that will allow the facility to resurface its grass courts for the London Olympics, which will be held on the same courts just two weeks after the conclusion of Wimbledon. Wimbledon’s courts have traditionally turned from pristine green lawns to scuffed up patches of dirt after two-weeks of play during the Championships. However, the All England Club’s head groundsman Eddie Seaward has been experimenting with a new system that he is confident will ensure that there are no problems for London 2012. He sowed a fresh batch of rye grass on July 5, the day after this year’s Wimbledon finished, and reported a successful result by the 19. Grass courts traditionally deteriorate faster than other surfaces, particularly after prolonged periods of use, and there were fears that the courts will be in a poor state when the Olympics take place at the historic venue.

A revolutionary new technique at the All England Club
A revolutionary new technique at the All England Club

Debbie Jevans, head of the 2012 Olympic tennis competition, said during a press briefing, “Following recent Wimbledon Championships, they have been able to get the court into top condition straight away and in 2012, they will look at planting a fresh batch of fast growing grass straight after Wimbledon. Every test they have done so far to recover the grass courts suggests that the court will be fine for the Olympics. Following recent Wimbledon Championships, they have been able to get the court into top condition straight away and in 2012, they will look at planting a fresh batch of fast growing grass straight after Wimbledon. Every test they have done so far to recover the grass courts suggests that the court will be fine for the Olympics.”

The tennis tournament at Wimbledon will take place during the first week of the Games while the All England Club will be hosting Olympic tennis for the first time since 1908.

* The Swiss Indoors has been told by the ATP World Tour that Davidoff, the tobacco company that has been a 17-year title sponsor of the event, cannot extend its affiliation with the event, due to worldwide laws restricting tobacco advertising on television. The tournament, played in the hometown of Roger Federer, was promoted in status last year to an ATP 500-level event, giving the tour central control over TV rights. The 2009 Swiss Indoors was broadcast in 150 countries and had a six-fold increase in ratings, but the sponsor’s name was dropped during transmissions.

* James Blake, who grew up in Fairfield, Conn., accepted a wild-card entry into the Pilot Pen tournament in New Haven, Conn. “Adding James Blake, a two-time champion and hometown favorite, to our field is one of the best ways to strengthen our player field even more,” said tournament director Anne Worcester.

* Mercedes-Benz will be honored for its ongoing contribution to tennis with the Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Award by the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, at the 30th annual “Legends Ball” on Friday, September 10, 2010 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. This special night of celebration will also honor a host of tennis luminaries including Martina Navratilova, who will receive the Eugene L. Scott Award and the Hall of Fame Class of 2010 – Todd Woodbridge, Mark Woodforde, Gigi Fernandez, Natasha Zvereva, Owen Davidson, wheelchair tennis pioneer Brad Parks and Derek Hardwick, former chairman of the British Lawn Tennis Association. The Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Award honors an exceptional company that shares Joe Cullman’s enthusiasm for tennis and has also made a significant contribution to society at large – both philanthropically and through outstanding generosity of spirit. Cullman served as President and Chairman of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum from 1982-88, a tenure during which the organization was elevated to worldwide recognition. He hoped that visits to the historic site would inspire young people to play tennis, learn and appreciate its history, and honor the great players of the past. Previous recipients of the award have been: BNP Paribas (2006); Rolex Watch U.S.A., Inc. (2007), Sony Ericsson (2008), and Tennis Channel (2009). “The wise investment that Mercedes-Benz has made in tennis has been integral to the growth of the sport around the world,” said Christopher E. Clouser, chairman of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. “They have been and continue to be avid supporters of tennis. For that we are proud to honor them alongside the other great champions and legends of the game.” For tickets, sponsorship opportunities, or to learn more about the event, call 212-843-1740 or e-mail legendsball@hgnyc.com.

* Cliff Richey, former U.S. No. 1, Davis Cup hero and author of the book ACING DEPRESSION: A TENNIS CHAMPION’S TOUGHEST MATCH ($19.95, New Chapter Press, www.CliffRicheyBook.com) will be speaking about overcoming obstacles in life and his fight with depression at 3 pm on Sunday, August 15 at the Westwood First Presbyterian Church, 3011 Harrison Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio. Richey will also sign be selling and signing copies of his book, which has been met with rave reviews. Richey is also expected to appear on site at the Western and Southern Financial Group Masters in Cincinnati on Monday, August 16 at the ACE AUTHENTIC booth on site at the event.

* The USTA conducted a tennis clinic featuring the QuickStart play format on the White House South Lawn alongside USTA Chairman of the Board and President Lucy S. Garvin, World Team Tennis Washington Kastles owner, Mark Ein, world No. 20 Sam Querrey, and doubles team Bob and Mike Bryan on Tuesday, August 3. The event was part of the South Lawn Series, a summer-long series of events that brings local children, sports leagues and community programs together to the South Lawn in support of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative to combat childhood obesity.

* The USTA announced that the Opening Night Ceremony for the 2010 US Open will celebrate those who Dream, Succeed and Inspire. The night will feature tributes to tennis greats Martina Navratilova and James Blake, wheelchair tennis star Esther Vergeer and USTA member Dori Samadzai-Bonner who has embraced tennis since coming to this country from her native Afghanistan.  The primetime ceremony, will be hosted by Christiane Amanpour, host of ABC News’ “This Week,” and will feature a special musical performance by award-winning performer Gloria Estefan. Navratilova, a four-time US Open singles champion and the most prolific winner in the history of the sport, recently defeated her toughest opponent in breast cancer.  Born in Czechoslovakia, Navratilova sought political asylum in the U.S. in 1975, then changed the face of women’s tennis with an aggressive game and a inspirational desire to be the best.  Navratilova brought this same zeal to her fight with cancer, and will put an exclamation mark on her triumph when she climbs Tanzania’s Mt. Kilimanjaro in December. Blake, a long-time US Open fan favorite and Davis Cup champion, grew up with scoliosis, which forced him to wear a back brace for 18 hours a day as a youth, and later made a triumphant return to the men’s tour after he fractured his neck in 2004 when he collided with a net post during practice.  Blake has been a professional tennis player since 1999, when he left Harvard to pursue his dream of becoming a professional tennis player. Vergeer, perhaps the most dominant female athlete in all of sports, has been confined to a wheelchair since the age of eight, when she lost the ability to use her legs after undergoing surgery for a spinal defect and brain hemorrhage.  She began playing wheelchair tennis at age 12, and has not lost a singles match since January 2003, an incredible unbeaten streak of 390 matches.  She will look to continue her inspirational streak by successfully defending her singles and doubles titles at the 2010 US Open Wheelchair Tennis Competition, which will be held September 9 to 12 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Samadzai-Bonner grew up in Afghanistan where girls were barred from taking parts in sports of any kind.  She dreamed of coming to America, and succeeded after a lengthy trip  that brought her here via stops in India and Thailand. Now a resident of Montgomery, AL, and a USTA member, she discovered tennis as a senior in high school and has been playing ever since.  “Tennis instantaneously became my escape from the years of misery I lived through simply because I was born a girl,” she says. Following the on-court tribute to the four inspirational individuals, 7-time Grammy-Award winning singer/songwriter Gloria Estefan will perform the inspiring song, “Reach” which was written as the Official Theme Song to the XXVI Olympic Games.  The song is a fitting capstone to this special night.  Estefan’s own story is one of dreams, success and inspiration, as she immigrated to the United States from her native Cuba and came back from a life-threatening accident to become one of the most revered Hispanic female role models.  Estefan has received numerous recognitions and honors, and in 1992, she was invited by President George Bush to serve as a public member of the United States Delegation to the 47th General Assembly to the United Nations.  In addition, she was the first-ever Latin female to receive the BMI “Songwriter of the Year” award.  Estefan sold over 90 million albums world-wide and has composed 15 of her own Top 10 Hits.   She has written international hit songs recorded by renowned artists such as Shakira and Jennifer Lopez

* Tennis Channel, the only 24-hour, television-based multimedia destination dedicated to both the professional sport and tennis lifestyle, will chronicle the renovation of Centennial Tennis Center in Nashville, Tenn., on its new program, Community Surface, which will air Monday, Sept. 13, at 7:30 p.m. ET – the day after the 2010 US Open. The half-hour Community Surface built by SportMaster will take viewers behind the scenes as Tennis Channel, court-resurfacing company and presenting sponsor SportMaster, and the United States Tennis Association (USTA), renovate the public tennis facility that was badly damaged in Nashville’s May floods.  During the national headline-grabbing storms, 36 inches of rain destroyed many of the 19 courts at Centennial Tennis Center which, due to insufficient repair funds, has left them unplayable and closed so far this summer.  Following a week of repairs in August, members of the Nashville tennis community will be able to enjoy these courts again for the first time since the spring catastrophe. “By showcasing how the makeover of just one public center can rejuvenate an entire tennis community, we hope Tennis Channel can inspire others to work together to improve their local facilities or help with other tennis needs,” said Laura Hockridge, vice president, original programming, Tennis Channel.  “Three-fourths of our viewers also play tennis recreationally, and this program is a natural reflection of the grass-roots connections that exist all over our country.” Hosted by writer and television personality Touré, who also hosts Fuse TV’s Hiphop Show and On the Record, the program is being taped in Nashville Aug. 10-18. Centennial Tennis Center’s courts will be sealed off with privacy screens during the renovation, with local dignitaries and key members of the tennis community on hand for the grand revelation Wednesday, Aug. 18.

FEDERER-BERDYCH REPRISE IN KEY BISCAYNE

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By Randy Walker

Who is Tomas Berdych?

That was the refrain from many people at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece when a 19-year-old Berdych, an relative unknown to almost anyone outside of Czech tennis circles, provided one of the biggest upsets in Olympic tennis history when he shocked world No. 1 and two-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 in the second round of the Games

The loss was devastating for Federer as it ended his hopes for an Olympic gold medal, one of the highest goals of his career. (He since went on to win Olympic doubles gold four years later in Beijing).

Since their debut meeting in Athens in 2004, Federer and Berdych have played eight more times, Federer winning all matches entering Tuesday night’s round of 16 match-up at the Sony Ericsson Open. Their last meeting was also an epic, a 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 Federer win in the round of 16 at the 2009 Australian Open.

Roger Federer
Roger Federer

Rene Stauffer, author of THE ROGER FEDERER STORY: QUEST FOR PERFECTION ($24.95, New Chapter Press, www.RogerFedererBook.com) takes readers back to Federer’s Olympic experience in 2004 in this book excerpt below;

In Cincinnati, Federer lost in surprising fashion in the first round to Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia, ending his 23-match winning streak. The winning streak was the longest in professional tennis in five years and the loss was Federer’s first in the opening round of a tournament since the French Open in 2003—a stretch of 15 months.

Federer, however, was quick to see the positive side of his early defeat —it gave him more time to prepare for the Olympic Games. The two-time Wimbledon champion was the star of the Swiss Olympic delegation and was considered certain to bring home a medal. He was highly motivated and he talked for months of the importance the trip to Greece was for him. Said Federer, “I’ve been looking forward to this tournament for four years.” He said he dreamed of winning the gold medal and toasting to his victory—and to his partnership with Mirka, which, like the Olympic flame, was ignited under the Olympic flag four years earlier at the Sydney Games. After his dis­appointing loss to Arnaud DiPasquale of France in the bronze medal match in Sydney, Federer was especially motivated to step on the medal podium.

He lived modestly in the Olympic Village—in contrast to many other tennis professionals who preferred hotels. He received the honor of leading the entire Swiss Olympic delegation as the Swiss flag-bearer at the Opening Ceremonies. Yet, like most of the tennis players at the Opening Ceremonies, he stood out in the enormous mass of athletes from all around the world, who sacrificed much through the years for this one chance at glory. While many athletes soaked in the atmosphere of the Opening Ceremonies from the infield of the Olympic stadium, Federer found himself forced to entertain a constant stream of photograph and autograph requests from his fellow Olympic athletes.

The International Tennis Federation was charmed that Federer held the Olympic tournament in such high esteem. Many Olympic followers and representatives from different Olympic sports held the opinion that the high­ly-paid professional tennis players had no business at the Olympics (tennis had once again became an Olympic sport in 1988) and that they did not take the event as seriously as it deserved to be treated.

In an Olympic tennis competition that featured many surprises, Federer’s second-round loss to the unknown 19-year-old Czech Thomas Berdych was perhaps the most unexpected result. To make matters worse, hours after his devastating 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 loss to the No. 79-ranked Berdych, he was also eliminated from the doubles competition with partner Yves Allegro, losing to India’s Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi.

Federer’s losses were major disappointments not only to himself, but to the Swiss Olympic delegation, which received another medal blow on the same day when its medal-contending judo athlete Sergei Aschwanden, also was eliminated from medal contention. Federer appeared well-composed in the media center—but he was at a loss for an explanation. He said he felt somewhat pressured and was tired after the long season, it was difficult playing against a young player like Berdych whom he didn’t know. A few months later and viewing his Olympic experience with some perspective, he quipped, “At least I carried the flag well in Athens.”