The Olympics singles alternate situation is ridiculous. Players that don’t even/cant play singles at highest level getting the call is dumb
Andy Roddick and Brad Gilbert highly critical of 'ridiculous' and 'dumb' Olympic Games alternate situation
ATPSunday, 28 July 2024 at 17:00
Novak Djokovic was a leading light to share his dismay at the alternate situation at the Olympic Games. Now Andy Roddick, a fellow former World No.1 has also voiced his displeasure at doubles players being given the spots after top players withdraw.
Cameron Norrie and Alex de Minaur have both pulled out of the singles on Sunday with World No.1 Jannik Sinner, Andy Murray and Hubert Hurkacz among those to withdraw. Matt Ebden, Francisco Cabral and Petros Tsitsipas all who don't play singles have found themselves playing.
It left to a humiliating loss for Ebden 6-0, 6-1 where he even offered to let a fan play for him during the tie. “There were a lot of singles players that had plenty of time, that were alternates, that could have been called to come,” Djokovic commented on the situation on Saturday. "I really hope the ITF (International Tennis Federation) along with the Olympics will consider changing this rule.”
Roddick tweeted about it calling it 'ridiculous' and 'dumb' and that alternates should be called onto the site to play singles as alternates instead. "The Olympics singles alternate situation is ridiculous. Players that don’t even/can’t play singles at highest level getting the call is dumb.”
When questioned about what he would change, he added: “Allow qualified onsite alternates for singles.”
While Brad Gilbert, former World No.4 and current coach of Coco Gauff also called for penalties to be employed if they withdraw from the tournament late on. “Ridiculous to not have at least a couple of alternates on site, also way to many late pullouts after the draw [sic] made, should face some sort of penalty.”
It has shone a further light on it too with De Minaur and Norrie both going mere hours before they were due to play their first round ties and shows that a system should be in place for such an occurrence.
But without any sort of qualifying, it has to be devised in a different way and so provides a headache for the tournament no matter what.
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