There is only one certainty: Jannik Sinner will be in Paris. The red wine from San Candido would never give up an appointment like this. Indeed, he has placed it among the seasonal priorities. And so, if participation in the second Slam of the season – Roland Garros – is still in the balance, participation in the Olympic tournament in the same setting and on the same courts is not at all. Jannik will be one of the great hopes of Italian sport for a medal at the Games. But he won’t be the only one. We see what is the situation in the Olympics Race of men’s tennis less than a month after the closing of the lists.
Tennis, how the Olympics Race for Paris 2024 works
Before delving into calculations and rankings, the regulations should be reviewed. As with the ATP Finals, qualification for the Olympic tennis tournament is reserved for the best players on an annual basis. Not in the calendar year, as in the prestigious end-of-year event which in the last editions took place in Turin, but in a period of time that goes from June 2023 to June 2024. On Monday 10 June, in particular, a line will be drawn. The best in the Olympic ranking – Olympics Race, precisely – will be admitted into the 64-man singles draw. With limitations, however.
Olympic tennis tournament: the regulations and the participants
In fact, each National Olympic Committee will be able to bring a maximum of twelve athletes to the Games, six of each gender. In singles the maximum is four, while in doubles (main draw at 32) two entries are possible in each draw. Finally, only one pair of athletes per nation in the mixed doubles draw, effectively a mini tournament reserved for just twelve pairs. How are Italian tennis players placed in the special ranking? Who will keep Sinner company on the red clay of Paris in the Olympic tournament, scheduled from July 27th to August 5th? In reality, according to the latest “clues”, Sinner should also take the field at Roland Garros in the next Slam, starting on Sunday 26 May.
Sinner, Musetti and then? Arnaldi and Darderi ahead in the ranking
The curiosity is that in the Olympic Race Jannik has already overtaken his friend Novak Djokovic as number 1: he is first, in fact, with 8725 points ahead of Nole, who has 7860 points. Further back is Alcaraz (6580) and all the others. And the Italians? The one placed best in the ranking is Musetti, 32nd at 1145. Then it’s a brawl. Arnaldi, 41st at 995, actually runs some risks. Darderi, in fact, is hot on his heels: he is 44th with 952 points. Behind the first four there is a brawl. Cobolli is 53rd with 825 points, Sonego 60th with 786. Nardi is also hopeful, 67th at 732. Berrettini is late, strongly in the balance: Matteo is 86th with 630 points. But Roland Garros could mix everything up. And ultimately it is right that Paris decides the places for…Paris.
