Why do tennis players contempt Olympics?

[Mastoor]

So far 4 top 30 players don't want to be involved Isner, Tomic, Thiem and FeLo.

 

[Bert]

I see several reasons :
- Players do not get any points from this tournament
- not sure they get any money unless they get a medal
- it came in a very heavy calendar between Toronto and Cincinatti Masters 1000.

For players that don't think they have a chance to win, it looks like a waste of time. Sure they can play for they country but they don't play Davis Cup either...

It is very different to other sports, such as track&fields, gym, swimming for which Olympics are the biggest competition in their discipline.

 

[britbox]

I see several reasons :
It is very different to other sports, such as track&fields, gym, swimming for which Olympics are the biggest competition in their discipline.

I think that's the real crux - it's not the pinnacle of the sport.... winning a major is... and for that reason, I don't particularly agree with tennis being in the Olympics at all. I do watch it though.

 

[Moxie]

I think Cincy is the tournament most likely to suffer. It's not a bad calculation for some players to play there instead, with the bigger guns distracted by shiny objects in Brazil.

 

[isabelle]

OG il a very important competition for all athletes, some tennis players don't understand that, it's a pity . A gold medal is such a great accomplishment I guess Federer would exchange one of his GS for a gold medal before retiring, he often said it was a main goal for him, Nole must want it too.
Tomic prefers to defend his challenger's title than to play OG...it's his decision but I think he hasn't understood what is important or not in sport. Nobody will recall who won a challenger, everybody still remember Andy, Kim and Judy crying all together after Andy's win in 2012

 

[britbox]

OG il a very important competition for all athletes, some tennis players don't understand that, it's a pity . A gold medal is such a great accomplishment I guess Federer would exchange one of his GS for a gold medal before retiring, he often said it was a main goal for him, Nole must want it too.
Tomic prefers to defend his challenger's title than to play OG...it's his decision but I think he hasn't understood what is important or not in sport. Nobody will recall who won a challenger, everybody still remember Andy, Kim and Judy crying all together after Andy's win in 2012

Federer already has a gold medal.

 

[isabelle]

Federer already has a gold medal.

Not in single...he's a single player not a double player that's what I meant

 

[britbox]

Not in single...he's a single player not a double player that's what I meant

The medals all look the same though. He's got a gold playing tennis.

 

[DarthFed]

Roger would be an idiot if he wanted to exchange one of his slams for a singles gold.

As for the reasons I'd add the location of the 2016 Olympics as a potential factor. But it must be said that MOST top players do take the Olympics very seriously these days.

 

[Moxie]

Roger would be an idiot if he wanted to exchange one of his slams for a singles gold.

As for the reasons I'd add the location of the 2016 Olympics as a potential factor. But it must be said that MOST top players do take the Olympics very seriously these days.

He never would. And he does have a gold medal, just not the singles one that he has wanted. I agree that the top guys take the OG seriously...every kid growing up dreams of an Olympic medal, and the gold is a particular kind of bonus on the resume. You're also likely right that the problems in Brazil (specific to the Games, and otherwise political and health crises) could be in the calculations of those who are passing on the opportunity.

 

[Billie]

So close to the games yet so many problems still remain. There was a little segment about it and zika virus in our national news last night. So concerning.

 

[Vince Evert]

I think that's the real crux - it's not the pinnacle of the sport.... winning a major is... and for that reason, I don't particularly agree with tennis being in the Olympics at all. I do watch it though.

I Don't (other than the year Jen Capriati and Marc Rosset took out the Gold medals). There's enough tennis as it is. Perhaps they should just drop the singles and leave it as doubles competition.