NEW YORK — This is a bit of recommendation for any males hoping to have a profitable US Open in an Olympic yr: Do not win the silver medal.
Carlos Alcaraz’s shock second-round defeat by Botic van de Zandschulp at Flushing Meadows on Thursday evening was simply the most recent in a run of early exits for individuals who have come so near successful gold on the Video games down the years.
Since tennis was formally reintroduced into the Olympics in 1988 (when the Video games have been held after the US Open), Roger Federer is the one male silver medal winner to make it even so far as the quarterfinals, in 2012.
Three misplaced within the first spherical, together with Juan Martin del Potro in 2016 and Karen Khachanov in 2021; three went out in Spherical 2; two exited in Spherical 3; and one made the final 16.
Talking after his defeat Thursday evening, Alcaraz stated he did not really feel that lacking out on gold had performed a component in his efficiency or affected him.
“Being so shut [to] the gold medal, it was troublesome for me within the few moments or one hour … [after] the match,” he stated. “However as soon as I spotted what I’ve achieved, the silver medal, it was an awesome achievement. I used to be actually proud about it and after … I did not give it some thought anymore.”
However after a packed summer season by which he additionally gained the French Open and Wimbledon, his efficiency in Cincinnati — the place he misplaced his first match and smashed a racket on the court docket — and his below-par show in New York, counsel in any other case.
Even a bronze medal appears to make gamers happier than the just-missed-gold silver medal.
When tennis gamers lose a match, that is usually that. Time to pack the luggage and transfer on to the following week and the following alternative. However on the Olympics, whenever you lose within the semifinals, there’s a second probability, at the least in tennis. Successful the bronze medal can nearly really feel higher than silver, due to that probability for redemption.
“I have been instructed statistically that bronze medalists are happier than silver medalists,” Taylor Fritz stated, with a smile, on the US Open earlier this week. Fritz and Tommy Paul gained the bronze medal within the males’s doubles in Paris and, regardless of wanting gold, they left France blissful.
“I’d have liked to have an opportunity at gold with Tommy. We have been taking part in rather well,” he stated. “We have been fairly upset after the semifinal loss and instantly all I instructed him was, like, ‘Look, if we’re upset now, how dangerous are we going to really feel if we do not come again and win the bronze? Let’s make sure that we focus again up and, , win the following one.’
“It was an superior expertise. My primary aim there was to depart with a medal. I feel if we’d have misplaced that third, fourth playoff, it might have damage quite a bit.”
Italian Lorenzo Musetti gained the bronze medal within the males’s singles in Paris. Outplayed by Novak Djokovic within the semis, he took his second alternative to assert the bronze.
“I used to be in such a tragic temper [after the semifinal], the way in which I behaved on court docket, there have been some issues that I did not like about myself within the efficiency,” he stated.
“However I needed to analyze all these items and I had the prospect to play the day after. It was one thing actually type of unusual for us as a result of whenever you lose, you are dwelling, however it was like a second probability. And I acquired it the laborious approach, so it was much more deserved in a approach.”
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek gained the bronze medal in Paris, after dropping within the semifinal in opposition to China’s Zheng Qinwen, the eventual champion. Having that second probability, she stated, allowed her to depart on a excessive.
“It was type of bittersweet, and I did not perceive what is going on on proper after I gained this match, as a result of it does not occur typically in tennis,” she stated. “In a standard event, ending third would not be a very good end result for me, however the Olympics feels just a little bit completely different.”
Silver medalists within the ladies’s occasion have carried out higher than the lads on the US Open in an Olympic yr, with Angelique Kerber successful the title in 2016 and just one lady, Marketa Vondrousova in 2021, going out earlier than the final 16.
Donna Vekic, the Croatian who misplaced to Zheng within the Olympic closing, stated she left Paris elated at her achievement. “I am actually proud,” she stated. “It is an awesome feeling, one thing that I will have for the remainder of my life.” Vekic remains to be in play on the US Open, and can get an opportunity for a rematch in opposition to Zheng on Sunday within the fourth spherical.
However chatting with WTA Insider earlier this month, Victoria Azarenka stated she was “for certain the happiest on the rostrum” when she gained the bronze in London in 2012.
“The bronze for me is so significantly better than silver,” she stated. “It needs to be gold or bronze. Silver, sorry, bye-bye. I do not prefer it. Emotionally it’s totally troublesome. However the reward and the sensation of getting it was simply past.”
