Preview / Schedule 2024 Paris Olympic Games Tennis Day Seven - Friday 2 August including Djokovic-Musetti, Alcaraz v Auger-Aliassime
ATPFriday, 02 August 2024 at 07:57
It is the first week of the Olympic Games coming to an end on Friday 2 August with the men's semi-finals and medal matches in both the Women's and Doubles tournament. Our preview looks ahead to Day Seven in Paris.
With all the highs and lows of tennis, the first two matches on Court Philippe Chatrier embody that on Friday with the first men's semi-final. This will turn one player into elation and the other into despair.
First medal to be handed out
Similar to the feeling that Iga Swiatek felt when she was left in tears after losing out to Qinwen Zheng on Thursday afternoon. The end of an Olympic Games dream and she could have a double blow. She faces Anna Karolina Schmiedlova who saw her dreams of a gold medal end at the hands of Donna Vekic.
The Croat will be the first from her country to secure a Gold or Silver medal in Olympic history thrashed her in the second set 6-0 on Thursday night to continue an incredible summer. But Schmiedlova who has had a breakout tournament has a chance to deal a double blow to Swiatek.
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As Swiatek's dreams were crushed, it could also see her leave Paris without a medal if the Slovak is able to seal a career best win. That is second up tomorrow. This means that Schmiedlova will return mere hours after finishing at 11pm the night before giving Swiatek a ready made advantage in the tie.
Alcaraz-FAA to open up proceedings
First up will be the first men's semi-final and what could be a stand-out clash as one player will go into the position of Swiatek and Schmiedlova and into the bronze medal match. The other will go into the gold medal match with victory.
Carlos Alcaraz will face off against Felix Auger-Aliassime. They currently sit at 3-3 in their Head to Head record. Until mid 2023, the Canadian led proceedings. He had three wins stretching back to 2021. But two wins at Indian Wells over the past two years and pretty rampantly set the Spaniard on his course.
He then hammered Auger-Aliassime in the same venue 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 on his way to his Roland Garros title. He has been quality at times this past week. Showing slight weakness against Tommy Paul, that was a player that he has struggled against in the past so there shouldn't be a lot read into it.
While Auger-Aliassime has a busy day awaiting him. He saw off Casper Ruud in three sets on Thursday and will have to return to play against Netherlands alongside Gabriela Dabrowski in the bronze medal match as well as face Alcaraz. So a busy day awaits the Canadian. Very much an unlucky situation but one that could gleam at least two medals of different colours.
Felix Auger-Aliassime will play multiple matches on Friday.
Djokovic to face Musetti (maybe)
Then it is the turn of Novak Djokovic who will face off against Lorenzo Musetti to begin the evening session. But will they even play?
Djokovic is in serious doubt right now. He saw off Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Quarter-Finals. But he aggravated his knee injury that he suffered in the same venue two months ago. He had a meniscus tear back then and he said that it was similar to that fourth round when he faced Francisco Cerundolo.
Back then, he withdrew after winning through. But will it follow the same script? Musetti has proved a formidable opponent in the past. He has a 6-1 Head to Head deficit but most of those matches including at Roland Garros have been closely ran affairs where he has led. He has the minerals to take it to Djokovic but can he beat him?
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In a tournament that was dominated pre running by Jannik Sinner and Jasmine Paolini (withdrew and defeated early), it is Musetti that has come to the fore for Italy.
Albeit Paolini features tomorrow against Karolina Muchova/Linda Noskova in the semi-finals of the women's doubles with Sara Errani so it could be double medal joy. Cristina Bucsa and Sara Sorribes Tormo feature in the other women's match. They face off against Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider.
It is also Czech Republic v China as the mixed doubles gold is crowned. Real life couple Tomas Machac and Katerina Siniakova will aim to show that bond is very much tantamount to medal excellence. They face China duo Wang Xinyu and Zhizhen Zhang.
Early Years and Initial Inclusion
- 1896 Athens Olympics: Tennis was one of the original sports included in the first modern Olympic Games. Both men's singles and doubles events were featured.
- 1900 Paris Olympics: Women's tennis was introduced, with Charlotte Cooper of Great Britain becoming the first female Olympic champion in history.
Interruption and Absence
- 1924 Paris Olympics: Tennis was featured for the last time before a long hiatus. It was dropped from the Olympic program due to disputes over amateurism rules and other administrative issues.
Reinstatement and Modern Era
- 1988 Seoul Olympics: After a 64-year absence, tennis was reintroduced as a full medal sport. This reinstatement marked the beginning of the modern era of Olympic tennis. Steffi Graf of Germany won the women's singles gold, achieving a "Golden Slam" by winning all four Grand Slam titles and the Olympic gold in the same year.
- 2000 Sydney Olympics: Venus Williams of the United States won both the women's singles and doubles gold medals, with the doubles victory achieved alongside her sister Serena Williams.
Recent Developments
- 2004 Athens to 2016 Rio Olympics: The period saw champions from diverse nations, including Justine Henin (Belgium), Elena Dementieva (Russia), and Andy Murray (Great Britain), who became the first player to win two consecutive singles gold medals (2012 and 2016).
- 2020 Tokyo Olympics: Novak Djokovic, despite being a favorite, was upset in the semi-finals. Alexander Zverev of Germany won the men's singles gold, while Belinda Bencic of Switzerland won the women's singles gold.
Notable Achievements
- Williams Sisters: Serena and Venus Williams have been particularly successful, winning multiple gold medals in both singles and doubles, solidifying their legacy in Olympic tennis history.
- Steffi Graf: Her "Golden Slam" in 1988 remains one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of the sport.
Schedule Olympic Games
Court Philippe-Chatrier
Starting at 13:30
Men's Singles Semi-Final - Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) v Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)
Women's Singles Bronze Medal Match - Iga Swiatek (POL) v Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SLO)
Starting at 19:00
Men's Singles Semi-Final - Novak Djokovic (SRB) v Lorenzo Musetti (ITA)
Mixed Doubles Gold Medal Match - Katerina Siniakova/Tomas Machac (CZE) v Wang Xinyu/Zhizhen Zhang (CHN)
Court Suzanne-Lenglen
Starting at 12:00
Women's Doubles Semi-Final - Karolina Muchova/Linda Noskova (CZE) v Sara Errani/Jasmine Paolini (ITA)
Men's Doubles Semi-Final - Matthew Ebden/John Peers (AUS) v Taylor Fritz/Tommy Paul (USA)
Mixed Doubles Bronze Medal Match - Gabriela Dabrowski/Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) v Demi Schuurs/Wesley Koolhof (NED)
Women's Doubles Semi-Final - Cristina Bucsa/Sara Sorribes Tormo (ESP) v Mirra Andreeva/Diana Shnaider
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- FYI: The term 'snub' is a much overused verb by writers of sensationalist rags. [SNUB: rebuff, ignore, or spurn disdainfully]. That is not the definition of what is going on with frequent withdrawals from tournaments.
mandoist16-09-2024 - No offence, Mr. Lloyd, but where have you been the past two years?? How long have you been a tennis fan? This 'article' may be informative for newbies or fair-weather tennis observers but the majority of fans know the root of the multiple issues within WTA. The #1 issue being the subject of health & well-being which has been (or has attempted to be) addressed with the WTA Elitist council members last season. WTA was extremely dismissive of players' concerns and opposed to such a meeting. Eventually giving-in due to publicity and allowed selective players only -- no rep's, no medical personnel, and no team members. The meeting was a farce as WTA soon after that released an even more hectic schedule... with mandatory tourneys! Guess they weren't taking notes?? BTW: There is a lot missing from this piece concerning "withdrawals". No writer has yet taken the jump to get behind the scenes and dig at the problems -- obvious organizational problems. IMO, the top two issues are WTA's lack of proper attention to health & well-being of its Money-Makers; and Financial Greed. Tip to Mr. Lloyd: there is no "snubbing" when these players withdraw. These women have to take such measures as withdrawing from a tourney, and occasional time-off from the circuit, to protect themselves -- because WTA refuses to take any measures at all (although not allowing matches until sunrise is a start). Surely you can do better than point fingers at players. The finger-pointing should be directed entirely at WTA (and ATP). Be a true journalist, Mr. Lloyd, and research them!!mandoist16-09-2024
- Uh-oh.... Now Raducanu is being forced to compete! Let's see who withdraws next... I wonder??mandoist15-09-2024
- And this is such a shock to WTA?? How many times are they (WTA & ATP) going to keep stepping in their own s*** ???mandoist15-09-2024
- They can go down together!mandoist15-09-2024
