Tennis returned to the Summer Olympic calendar in 1988 after a 64-year absence.
The likes of Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, and Novak Djokovic have since won gold medals.
It is, of course, a Summer Olympic sport, played outdoors on clay, grass, or hard courts.
What would the score be if Carlos Alcaraz faced prime Roger Federer?
Who is winning and in how many sets?
But could tennis ever be played at the Winter Olympics?
During the latest episode of ‘Served with Andy Roddick‘, respected journalist Jon Wertheim said the following when discussing Felix Auger-Aliassime’s latest triumph indoors.
“Let me ask you a question, the Winter Olympics are going on, right? Which means sports that are played on snow or ice. But there is talk sometimes, especially with this imbalance in sports and ratings, of maybe we need to broaden what is an Olympic sport. Why is table tennis a summer sport?” said Wertheim.
“If this were back on the docket, and tennis could be a Winter sport, it would obviously be indoors, to the great benefit of Felix [Auger-Aliassime], if you can find a facility, and tennis can be a Winter Olympic sport, pro or con?”
Wertheim’s co-host, Andy Roddick, delivered an emphatic response to the suggestion.
Andy Roddick doesn’t think tennis should be a Winter Olympic sport
“No!” said Roddick.
“I’m going to make it simpler than it probably is; there’s probably more nuance to this.
“If you wear shorts, it’s not a winter sport!
“If I can see your kneecaps, it belongs in the Summer Games.”
Roddick is clearly against the suggestion, and you can understand why.
While as Wertheim suggested, it would be possible to play matches indoors, tennis just isn’t a winter sport.
The sport is at its best when played outside in the sun, enjoyed by fans.
Who finishes their career on more majors – Alcaraz or Djokovic?
To move the event indoors would feel wrong, and tennis would simply be out of place at the Winter Olympics.
A change would also make little sense given the success of the Summer Olympic tennis event over recent years.
The 2024 Olympics featured an all-star final between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, as the Serb finally secured a gold medal at 37.
Djokovic plans to return to the event in 2028, to write another chapter of his Olympic story.
It’s hard to imagine the 24-time Grand Slam champion supporting tennis becoming a Winter Olympic sport with that in mind.
Andy Roddick’s record at the Olympics
Roddick doesn’t believe tennis should become a Winter Olympic sport, but how did he perform at the Summer Games during his career?
The former world number one competed at two Olympics, the 2004 Games in Athens, Greece, and the 2012 Games in London, England.
Andy Roddick at the 2004 Olympics
Making his Olympic debut in 2004, Roddick travelled to Athens as the number-two seed.
He made light work of his first-round opponent, but was pushed close in round two.
- 2004 Olympics 1R – Andy Roddick defeated Flavio Saretta (Brazil), 6-3, 7-6
- 2004 Olympics 2R – Andy Roddick defeated Tommy Haas (Germany), 4-6, 6-3, 9-7
It was in the third round that his run would end, losing to Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez, the eventual bronze medalist, in straight sets.
- 2004 Olympics 3R – Andy Roddick lost to Fernando Gonzalez (Chile), 4-6, 4-6
He controversially chose not to compete at the subsequent Games in Beijing, instead opting to prepare for his Washington Open title defence.
Roddick did, however, return to Olympic action in London four years later.
Andy Roddick at the 2012 Olympics
In his final year on tour, Roddick played his second Olympic tennis tournament.
Competing without a seed next to his name, Roddick won his first-round match to set up a mouthwatering second-round clash with Serbia’s Novak Djokovic.
- 2012 Olympics 1R – Andy Roddick defeated Martin Klizan (Slovakia), 7-5, 6-4
Unfortunately for Roddick, he was no match for Djokovic, suffering a comprehensive defeat on Wimbledon’s Centre Court.
- 2012 Olympics 2R – Andy Roddick lost to Novak Djokovic (Serbia), 2-6, 1-6
Retiring with a 3-2 record at the Olympics, perhaps Roddick would have fared better at an indoor-Winter Games…
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
