5 greats who failed to strike gold in tennis at the Olympics

While Grand Slams remain to be the cherry for the players, many stars of the sports have also featured in tennis at the Olympics. Many of the tennis greats have failed to win a gold medal at the Olympics.

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Tennis had been part of the Summer Olympic Games since its inaugural edition in 1986. However, tennis at the Olympics was dropped after 1924 owing to disputes between the International Lawn Tennis Federation and the International Olympic Committee with regard to amateur players.

The sport returned in 1988 with the Seoul games and has been an integral part of summer games since then.

While Grand Slams remain to be the cherry for the players, many stars of the sports have also featured in tennis at the Olympics. Many of the tennis greats have failed to win a gold medal at the Olympics.

Here are some of the prominent tennis players to be deprived of gold at single’s event of tennis at the Olympics:

John McEnroe

5 greats who failed to strike gold in tennis at the Olympics

US tennis ace John McEnroe won seven grand slam single titles, three Wimbledon and four US Opens. He won 77 titles on his tour and climbed to no.1 position in ATP ranking.

In his glorious career, McEnroe never got to play at the summer event as tennis at the Olympics was not recognized during his active years. There he could never win a medal at the Olympics.

Also Read: Tennis Rules and Regulations For the Paris Olympics 2024

Martina Navratilova

5 greats who failed to strike gold in tennis at the Olympics

With 167 titles to her credit in her tennis career, Martina Navratilova is regarded as one of the legends of the sport. In her 32-year-long The Czech-American player won three Australian Opens, two French Opens, nine Wimbledon and four US Open titles, making her one of the greatest of the game.

Navratilova participated only in one Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 where she competed in double’s event but was eliminated in the quarter final round.

Pete Sampras 

5 greats who failed to strike gold in tennis at the Olympics

American legend Pete Sampras participated in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, the only summer games he took part in where he bowed out in the third round. He did not feature in the 1996 Athens and the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Sampras won two Australian Opens, seven Wimbledon and five US Open titles in his celebrated career. But an Olympic medal remained elusive to him.

Chris Evert

5 greats who failed to strike gold in tennis at the Olympics

Another American, Chris Evert, also took part in just one Olympics, the 1988 Seoul Olympics. She was eliminated in the third round.

With two Australian Opens, seven French Opens, three Wimbledon and six US Open titles, the former world no 1 did not make it big at the Olympics.

Also Read: All-Time Greatest Players in Tennis [Last Update 2024]

Novak Djokovic

5 greats who failed to strike gold in tennis at the Olympics

Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, made his debut at the Olympics with the 2008 Beijing Games. He also represented Serbia in the following four editions of the games at London, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo. He settled for a bronze medal at the Beijing Games.

The former world no.1 has won 10 Australian Opens, three French Opens, seven Wimbledon, and four US Open titles.

The Serb is in contention in the upcoming Paris Olympics 2024, where his dream for a gold medal might come true.