The draws for the 2024 Olympics took place on Thursday throwing up some entertaining clashes for tennis fans worldwide.
Though some ATP and WTA players may not find their sides of the draw all that entertaining.
Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz are still the clear favorites in the singles draws having taken the French Open titles in June, but many others still fancy their chances.
From easy pickings to nightmare clashes, The Tennis Gazette takes a look at the biggest winners and losers that have come from the Olympics 2024 tennis draw.
Novak Djokovic (SRB) – loser
Novak Djokovic would have been hoping for a few matches to ease himself into the tournament as he aims to embark on his likely final hunt for an elusive gold medal.
However, a potential second-round showdown with Rafael Nadal was precisely not what the doctor ordered.
Nadal has always been a nightmare match-up for Djokovic on the courts of Roland Garros, and even at 38, the Spaniard can cause serious trouble.
Maria Sakkari (GRC) – winner
It was a sigh of relief for Maria Sakkari when she looked at the draw on Thursday morning to find her name next to Danka Kovinic, the WTA number 668 who was awarded a ‘Universality Place’ to take part in the Games.
Sakkari has notoriously not done well in prestigious tournaments such as grand slams or the Olympics but will be keen to capitalize on her advantageous draw this time around.
Emma Navarro (USA) – winner
Emma Navarro’s red-hot rise in the rankings has been something to take note of.
Now the American, who is seed number 11, has been given a favorable draw and, with no real scares until the third round, she will bid to push on from the impressive run that took her to the fourth round of the French Open on the same courts.
Alexander Zverev (GER) – winner
Alexander Zverev claimed gold at the Tokyo Games in 2020 and, after seeing his quarter of the draw, he may find it hard to hold in the excitement.
The defending champion is a dangerous weapon on clay, having led Alcaraz two sets to one in the final of this year’s French Open, and is a serious contender to repeat the miracle of four years prior.
Ana Bogdan (ROU) – loser
Ana Bogdan has drawn the WTA’s most in-form player in the opening round and will have her work cut out when she faces Italy’s Jasmine Paolini.
The 28-year-old’s imposing start to the 2024 season has continued right through the summer months as she became the first woman to reach the Roland Garros and Wimbledon finals in the same year since Serena Williams in 2016.
Matthew Ebden (AUS) – loser
After a flurry of withdrawals from the men’s singles event, Australia’s Matthew Ebden was fortunate to enter as an alternate.
However, the ATP Doubles world number three will not feel so fortunate after being drawn against Djokovic in the first round with a potential second-round clash with Nadal.
That might just be one of the toughest possible routes to the third round.
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