Former world number one says if he thinks it is harder to win a Grand Slam title or an Olympic gold medal

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Not many tennis players in history can say they have won both a Grand Slam title and an Olympic gold medal.

Novak Djokovic won Olympic gold for the first time last year at the Paris Games, enabling him to win the only big title that was eluding him.

While in the women’s singles event, it was Qinwen Zheng who won the Paris Olympic title to make history for China.

Now someone who has managed to achieve both has given his verdict over which of the two achievements is more difficult.

Yevgeny Kafelnikov reveals if he thinks winning a major or Olympic gold is harder

Yevgeny Kafelnikov is a two-time Grand Slam champion, and also won an Olympic singles gold medal at the Sydney Games in 2000.

In an interview on the ‘First & Red’ YouTube channel, where Kafelnikov also spoke about the current state of men’s tennis, he was asked about the two biggest achievements in his career and which he thinks is tougher.

Kafelnikov responded by claiming that he thinks winning an Olympic gold medal in tennis is much harder due to the fact that it only takes place every four years, compared to four Grand Slam opportunities per year.

“The Olympic games are every four years, and for all the stars to align, for you to win five matches, and be in good shape, is unique,” said Kafelnikov.

“It’s hard for me to explain to people who aren’t tennis players, they don’t understand how difficult it is to win the Olympic Games. I think it’s much harder than winning a Grand Slam, I am absolutely sure about that.

“They are once every four years, that is the big difference. You have a Grand Slam tournament four times a year, but at the Olympic Games you may only have one chance in your career, where you can be there at 20, 24, 25… you may only have one cycle at this age where you are at the peak of your abilities, and you must take advantage of the opportunity.”

All 11 players who have won both a Grand Slam and Olympic gold medal in singles

Kafelnikov’s suggestion that winning the Olympic title is harder than winning a Grand Slam is supported by some of the big names who have never won a singles gold medal.

Tennis returned to the Olympics in 1988, and while Roger Federer won a gold medal in doubles, he was never able to do so in his preferred singles.

Two players on this list stand out, with Steffi Graf the only player in history to win all Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal in one calendar year.

The other is Andy Murray, who is the only player in history to win two tennis singles gold medals, and he did it back-to-back.

Murray actually retired at the Paris Olympics last year, which felt pretty fitting considering his achievements at the event.

It also saw Rafael Nadal partner Carlos Alcaraz for one final Olympic Games, where he also played his rival and eventual singles champion Djokovic.