Tennis at the 2024 Summer Olympics: all you need to know, where and when the matches will take place
Yasmine Green
Dailysports's expert
Translated by the editors
One of the most important events in the world of sport is about to begin. On 26 July, athletes from around the world will begin competing at the Summer Olympics in Paris. The Dailysports team tells you what you need to know about one of the disciplines of the games - tennis.
Tennis at the 2024 Summer Olympics: what is the format?
The tennis tournament at the games in Paris has not undergone any changes compared to the previous games. In the men's and women's singles tournaments, 64 players will compete each. Actually, these stages will start with the 1/32 finals.
The men's and women's doubles will start from the round of 16, and the mixed doubles will start from the round of 16.
The singles matches will be played until victory in two sets with a standard tie-break (up to seven points) in each set, including the final set. In doubles, if necessary, a tie-break (up to ten points) will be played instead of a third set.
Tennis at the 2024 Summer Olympics: what are the eligibility criteria?
To be able to play at the Olympics, a tennis player would have to fulfil the criteria for the Davis Cup (for men) or the Billie Jean King Cup (for women).
But, the main body of singles spots were allocated according to the ATP and WTA rankings as of 10 June 2024, namely 56 spots. The remaining eight slots were allocated as follows:
- six for the NOCs with no other tennis players who qualified in the five continental zones,
- one for host nation France
- one for the reigning Olympic or Grand Slam champion.
In the doubles tournament, of the 32 spots for each gender, ten are reserved for the top of the doubles rankings, but they can only choose a partner from their own country. The remaining places are distributed according to the combined rankings.
Tennis at the 2024 Summer Olympics: when and where will the matches be played?
The tennis tournament at the Olympics will take place from 27 July to 4 August. It is on these dates that the men's singles tournament will stretch. All due to the fact that four days will be occupied by the stages 1/32 and 1/16 finals. Other stages will be played on separate days.
For women, the tournament will be somewhat compressed. Starting with the 1/16 finals, the stages will be played in one day. Thus, the winner of the men's singles tournament will be announced on 4 August, and the winner of the women's singles tournament will be announced the day before.
- Read also: Athletics at the 2024 Summer Olympics: what you need to know when and where the runs will take place
Speaking of the venue, it will be the first time in 32 years that an Olympic tournament will be played on clay courts since the 1992 Barcelona Games, and the first time in 12 years that an Olympic event will be played in an arena that also hosts Grand Slam tournaments.
Yes, we're talking about the legendary Roland Garros court complex, which will be the venue for the Olympic tennis tournament.
History of tennis in the Olympic Games
Tennis was included in the Olympic Games programme back in 1896, but after the 1924 games, the discipline was excluded from the games due to a conflict between the IOC and the ITF. Tennis returned to the games twice, in 1968 and 1984, but only as a demonstration tournament and with an age limit of under 21.
Tennis became a full medal tournament without any age or player status restrictions in 1988 and has been an integral part of the Games ever since.
It is noteworthy that the women's singles tournament appeared as early as the 1900 Games, but the doubles tournament had to wait another 20 years.
When and where will the finals take place? (Central European Time)
The first final will be the end of the mixed doubles tournament. It will take place on the 2nd of August at 19:00. The main part of the finals will take place on the following days.
On the 3rd of August at 12:00 there will be finals in women's singles and men's doubles tournaments.
On 4 August at 12:00 will be held finals in men's singles and women's doubles.
The finals in women's singles and men's doubles will be held at the Philippe Chatrier court of the Roland Garros complex.
