What are the qualifying scenarios for Olympic tennis at Paris 2024? The French Open at Roland-Garros could be key. Here's why
Tennis fans have had the date circled for a long time: 10 June 2024.
Next Monday marks the day after the completion of Roland-Garros, the sport's second Grand Slam of the season. But more importantly it's the day the ATP (men's) and WTA (women's) rankings will be published - the ranking lists that will be used for the coming Olympic Games Paris 2024*.
The Olympics will see 64 players across each of the two singes draws, as well as 32 doubles teams and 16 mixed doubles teams. Each country is allotted a maximum of 12 players per team: Six men and six women, with four men and four women competing in singles.
The draw sizes are actually smaller than the sport's Grand Slams, which boast twice the number of participants across each of the three disciplines: Singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has laid out an explainer of qualifying scenarios, which you can find here.
We highlight a few of the most pertinent points below.
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*As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.
Tennis: Who is playing at Paris 2024?
The men's and women's singles draws will include 56 "direct acceptances," meaning players who qualify by ranking while also being in good standing with their national organising body as well as the ITF, and who have represented their nation enough times in Davis or Billie Jean King Cup - tennis' international team events.
Are you eyeing a country who has a lot of top-ranked female players, like the U.S.? (Seven American women are ranked inside the top 56 as of this week.) They must be within the top four of their nation. Same goes for the Italian men, with world No.1-to-be Jannik Sinner leading six men in the top 56.
There are six other qualification spots in the draws, as well as one host country place and one Universality Place, bringing both totals (in singles) to 64. What's a Universality Place? We've got you covered here.
Qualification spots are open for continental qualifiers, including the Pan American Games (two spots per singles draws), the Asian Games (one per draw) and the African Games (one per draw).
Two places are also available in each singles draw for an athlete who is an Olympic champion in singles or a Grand Slam title-winner. If they haven't already qualified via the above, they must be ranked in the world's top 400 and don’t push their NOC quota over the four-player threshold.
Can Rafael Nadal play the Olympics in Paris?
As Nadal, the Beijing 2008 singles champion and Rio 2016 doubles champion, has said 2024 is likely his final year as a professional, all eyes have fallen on Roland-Garros and Paris 2024. After the 14-time French Open champion was unlucky in drawing - and losing to - reigning Olympic champion Alexander Zverev in the first round at Roland-Garros, the question now is: Will Rafa play the Olympics? Can he?
Nadal could use what tennis calls a special or protected ranking, which he qualifies for having missed some 11 months in 2023, returning to action in January 2024. A protected ranking can be for a player's first 12 tournaments (or 12 months after they've returned). Nadal falls within both of those guidelines.
When it comes to Paris 2024, the ITF explains:
[A special or protected ranking] "may indeed apply to Nadal: If Nadal were not among the top four Spaniards come 10 June, he could use his protected ranking to ensure he does feature among those four. He would, however, also need to apply for an exemption to the ITF Olympic Committee (given he has not played Davis Cup since 2019), but would be hopeful with his lengthy time out through injury and an enviable Olympic and Davis Cup record to point to."
Nadal used his protected ranking to play the French Open, having been ranked world No.644 at the time of the entry list (15 April).
Another Olympic singles champion, London 2012 and 2016 winner, Andy Murray, could tap into the aforementioned Olympic champion allotment, with only three British men ranked ahead of his current world No.75 ranking. Murray has also actively sought a doubles partnership with compatriot Dan Evans, saying his best shot at the podium could be in that event.
What about doubles? And what's the selection timeline?
Doubles will accept the top 31 teams with one spot saved for the host nation, with players - from the same country, of course - using their singles or doubles ranking, whichever is higher, and combining their high ranking with that of their partner.
Mixed doubles will only feature mixed-gender pairings of players who have been selected for singles and/or doubles.
Per the ITF, the NOCs have until 19 June to confirm their player lists. If a player opts out, that spot is re-allocated and must be filled by 8 July.
The ITF forecasts to have its lists finalised by the week of 1 July. You can find those lists published here.