Olympic tennis has had problems with respect. In 2000, for example, world #1 Martina Hingis and all-time great Pete Sampras were among a large group of tennis stars who decided that going to Sydney just wasn't worth the trouble. The biggest issue is timing, with the Olympics coming during a busy part of the tennis calendar and so close to the US Open. Players have been reluctant to disrupt their schedules and miss tournaments that offer all-important ranking points, but the WTA Tour and ITF have come up with a solution: They will award ranking points for Olympic results. We can expect the ATP Tour to do the same, and as a result of this innovation by both tours, we should see the best Olympic tennis competition yet.
About Olympic Tennis: Learn what makes Olympic tennis distinct, see what it takes to make an Olympic tennis teams, and find lots of tennis lessons in case all of this inspires you to improve your own game.
The Athletes: Picking top contenders in any tennis competition requires weighing a set of factors the size and diversity of which reflect the complexity of the game. In addition to the players' own attributes--mental and physical toughness, one- or two-handed backhand, heavy topspin or flatter strokes, baseliner or net attacker--the court surface has much to say about who will prevail.
Olympic Tennis History: The history of tennis predates the invention of rubber. Olympic tennis doesn't go back quite as far, but its early champions did win in long dresses and pants. Here, you'll find a history of the sport and the names of every Olympic tennis medalist.
Action Image Gallery : These photos of twelve of its most exciting players capture both the power and the elegance of tennis. The accompanying comments should help you learn from what you see.
