Olympic Tennis 2016: Complete Guide to Men's Tournament in Rio

The 2016 Summer Olympics land in Rio de Janeiro, and men's professional tennis players will be competing for medals and patriotic glory. They will bring a variety of styles and skills as they play for a global audience that may not always tune in for one of the most beautiful and tactical sports on the planet.

Just how important is it for the top players in the world to compete, and who will play? It’s one of the most important angles we cover as we briefly look at the history of Olympics tennis and what motivates players to attend or bypass the Games.

We also examine which of the stars are the biggest favorites to win Olympic medals. Who are the dark horses and who could be a pleasant surprise to capture the hearts of a sports audience that would otherwise tune into track and field or swimming.

This is your guide to the men's field of Olympics tennis, complete with schedule and basic ingredients to enjoy one of the truly global sports that is offered year-round. Welcome to the beautiful game.

Overview and History

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Andre Agassi won the 1996 men's singles gold medal.

Tennis became a popular sport in England and France in the late 19th century, so the timing was perfect when the modern Olympics recommenced in 1896. But tennis only lasted as an Olympics sport until 1924, before disputes between the Olympics and the International Lawn Tennis Federation.

As the Open era of tennis professionalism began, tennis made cameo appearances in 1968 and 1984 as a demonstration sport before coming back as an official participant in 1988. Czechoslovakia's Miloslav Mecir won the men's singles gold medal against a field that did not include most of the top superstars except Stefan Edberg, who settled for sharing the bronze medal with American Brad Gilbert.

Thereafter, the Olympics became more attractive to superstars such as American Andre Agassi (1996), Spaniard Rafael Nadal (2008) and Scot Andy Murray (2012) who have since captured gold medals in singles competition.

Tennis in the Olympics is often more important for the top stars who can compete for medals. Immediately after winning gold, Agassi explained how this achievement was more meaningful than the three majors he had won up to that time, as recorded by J.A. Adande of the Washington Post:

"

I think to win the Grand Slam in the sport of tennis is the biggest thing you can accomplish inside of your sport. But to win the Olympics is the biggest thing you can do in all of sports. It’s a small part of an amazing, amazing moment.

To win a gold medal is what it’s all about. If you can’t come here and give everything to win the medal for your country, then I think you’re really missing out. I’d keep this over all of ’em.

"

For a more marginal player, the rewards of chasing a medal come at the expense of other rankings points and money that they can more likely achieve. Young Austrian star Dominic Thiem, who is not participating, explained in TennisNet (via Tennis.com):

"

I'm not a big fan of the Olympic Games. The ATP calendar is a bit complex due to the Olympic event. Small tournaments like Gstaad, Umag and Kitzbuhel will be played in the same week. It's not the main priority for me, but maybe my mentality will change when I'm older.

I prefer playing ATP tournaments and Davis Cup competition rather than Olympic Games. The Olympics are very important only if you gain a medal and that's a very difficult achievement.

"

Olympics tennis is a sample of the professional tour, but it does not contain the depth and quality of tennis’ biggest tournaments.

The Schedule

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Olympics tennis will begin Saturday, August 6 and end with gold-medal matches on Friday-Sunday, August 12-14. The International Tennis Federation posted the schedule that shows first-round action played during the first two days. It will include men’s and women’s singles and doubles action.

By Round 2, half of the competitors will be eliminated. The women’s singles competition will move a day ahead of the men’s bracket by Wednesday, because the singles gold-medal match will be played Saturday, August 13, a day ahead of the men.

Doubles and mixed doubles will award medals and also feature varying time slots, to be announced day by day as the tournament proceeds. The men’s doubles gold-medal match will be Friday, August 12, the earliest draw to finish, and the women’s doubles and mixed doubles gold-medal matches will follow the men’s singles gold-medal match on Sunday, concluding all tennis competition.

The men's singles draw will include 64 players, meaning that the winner must win six matches, one less than major tournaments such Wimbledon and the French Open. The showcase matches on Centre Court generally tip off at 10:45 a.m. local time and continue well into the evening.

Following daily results, the schedule and times for the next day will be reset with the winners. The feature stars figure to play on Centre Court at the showcase times.

Top Storylines

Associated Press

Spaniard Rafael Nadal returns to tennis for the first time in over two months. He missed the 2012 Olympics with injuries, so it will be his first Olympics competition since winning the men's singles gold in 2008.

The Zika Virus

For several weeks, tennis stars have been hearing about the Zika virus in Brazil. The virus is spread through mosquito bites, and the Centers for Disease, Control and Prevention lists potential effects as fevers, rashes, joint pains and red eyes. Pregnant women are warned to stay away from areas with the Zika virus, because it can cause birth defects. Currently, Brazil is on yellow alert, according to the CDC site, which means to take enhanced precautions.

Because of the Zika virus, many players have stated they will not play Olympics tennis. Top men's players who withdrew include world No. 7 Milos Raonic and No. 8 Tomas Berdych, who have specifically cited the Zika virus, via PA Sport (h/t ESPN.com).

Americans Bob and Mike Bryan, who won the doubles gold medal four years ago, withdrew citing concerns for their “family’s health,” according to USA Today.

Other Top Players Absent

Injuries will prevent Roger Federer from playing the rest of 2016, and fellow Swiss star and two-time major winner Stan Wawrinka withdrew because of a back injury, according to BBC News.

Germany's young phenom, Alexander Zverev, also withdrew. The 19-year old said that he is not "100 percent," according to the Associated Press (h/t ABC News).

Other top players such as American John Isner, Austria’s Thiem and Spain’s Feliciano Lopez would rather chase ATP rankings points rather than compete for slim chances at medals, according to CNN.

Australians Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic will not play because of their continued disagreements with their country’s Olympics and sporting authorities, also explained in CNN.

Rafa, Andy and Novak

The names you will hear most? Begin the discussions with 30-year-old Nadal, who is trying to come back to competitive action for the first time since he withdrew from the French Open. The Spaniard withdrew after the second round with an injured wrist, and he has since had to miss Wimbledon and other tournaments. Will he find his form in time to make a run for one more special week in Brazil? 

Wimbledon champion Murray won the 2012 London Games and on Wimbledon’s renowned grass. He looks to bolster his gold-medal collection on Brazil’s hard courts.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic summed up his ambitions in the Evening Standard: “I don’t need to explain that every athlete dreams of being part of the Olympic Games. I’m competing in the singles and doubles. Hopefully I’ll get at least one medal.”

Can't-Miss Events

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Andy Murray and Juan Martin del Potro are returning medalists from the 2012 Olympics.

Mixed Doubles

This is one of the most interesting team events, pairing star compatriot players. It takes place August 10-14 in a more abbreviated format that includes a bracket of 16 teams, meaning that the winning team must win four matches. Max Mirnyi and Victoria Azarenka won the gold medal for Belarus in 2012, but they will not be able to defend due to Azarenka’s time off from tennis with her pregnancy.

Teams are still determined depending on the players already on site by the registration deadline on August 9. Half of the intrigue will be the pairings, and then the competitions. Will Serena Williams and Jack Sock play for the United States? Would Garbine Muguruza and Nadal play together for Spain?

Singles Medals Matches

By the second weekend, the intensity of winning gold, silver or bronze will be important to the remaining men who survive to the semifinals. Nobody’s going to give less than his best efforts in chasing down every ball.

Four years ago, Federer and Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro staged a classic marathon match in the semifinals with Federer prevailing 3-6, 7-6 (5), 19-17 in four hours, 26 minutes, the longest three-set match in the Open era. Federer went on to claim the silver medal after losing to Murray, and Del Potro defeated Djokovic for the bronze.

There will be at least a few epic moments, triumphant surprises and disappointing losses. Singles tennis leads the sport.

Locks for Gold

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Novak Djokovic came away empty-handed in his chase for medals at the 2012 Olympics.

Djokovic in Singles

The Serb lost his 2012 semifinal match to eventual gold medalist Murray and lost the bronze-metal match to a fatigued Del Potro. Four years later, Djokovic is the king of tennis and possibly the most complete tennis player of all time. He has a way of persisting to add missing championships, as he did in finally winning the French Open in June, so if there is anyone who could be considered a lock, it’s Djokovic.

Doubles Up in the Air

Doubles competition has several effective teams, but none of them are outright favorites to win the gold. The French duo of Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut have been the best team of 2016, winning Wimbledon and prestigious Masters 1000 tournaments Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo. They are experienced playing together.

But Frenchmen Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils are more talented singles players trying to merge for Olympics gold. They are capable of winning as the No. 4 seeds in Brazil.

Brothers Andy and Jamie Murray endured Davis Cup pressure in 2015 to lead Team Great Britain to that title. They are seeded No. 2 and a strong case to medal.

Or perhaps Nadal and Marc Lopez can surprise for a medal as No. 6 seeds. Doubles is a roll of the dice with many possibilities for Olympics medals.

Dark Horses to Watch

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Japan's Kei Nishikori is a strong candidate to earn a medal.

Rafael Nadal

The 30-year-old Spaniard has not competed since he withdrew from the French Open with a wrist injury following his second-round victory in late May. He’s no longer the most dominant player in the world, and it’s been two years since his last major victory, but Nadal also has a way of making dramatic comebacks. If he survives the first two matches, gets his timing and can stay rested, he has an outside chance at getting a medal.

Kei Nishikori

The Japanese superstar might get plenty of fans crossing the Pacific to support their hero. Nishikori is also having a fine year and is ranked No. 6 in the world. He just needs to break through for a huge event, like winning an Olympics gold medal. He has terrific defense, attacks baseline balls by redirecting them quickly to tough angles and is just below the likes of Djokovic and Murray.

Marin Cilic

One of the most talented and underrated stars in the ATP, Cilic was the 2014 U.S. Open winner after sweeping Federer and Nishikori in the final four. He boasts a strong serve, big forehand on fast hard courts and has surprisingly good defensive footwork behind strong baseline strokes. He could very well come away with any of the three medals.

Grigor Dimitrov

Two years ago, the young Bulgarian was a Wimbledon semifinalist and considered one of the most talented potential stars in tennis. He's confused about his defensive-to-offensive attack, but he has the skills to drive through a spectacular week if he can put everything together. Maybe the Olympics will be a turning point and help him get back on track to being a top-10 player. However, his first match is a tough one against Cilic. Dimitrov will most likely be one-and-done, but if he gets through, he could do some damage.

Potential Breakout Stars

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France's Gael Monfils is an amazing athlete.

Gael Monfils

Frenchman Gael Monfils is a flamboyant veteran with eye-popping athleticism familiar to tennis fans. He’s also been playing some of the best tennis of his career in recent weeks. He battled Nadal in the prestigious final at Monte Carlo in April. He won Washington, D.C., two weeks ago, and he got to the semifinals of Canada’s Rogers Cup. Maybe Monfils puts together a medal-winning run and becomes famous to sports fans all over the world. He’s an entertainer with his shot-making, so a good stint in Brazil could make him a celebrity.

Borna Coric

The 19-year-old Croatian has already defeated Nadal and Murray in his young career. He won the fifth and deciding Davis Cup rubbers (matches) for his team in 2016 and is already showing that he is unafraid to compete on big tennis stages. His defensive footwork, strong backhand and shot-making conjures up images of a young Djokovic, something we noted in our recent Bleacher Report profile of Coric.

David Goffin

Belgium's best player looks like he could be serving ice cream rather than serving at Centre Court. Standing at 5'11", David Goffin is disadvantaged against bigger, more powerful opponents, but he is the total package of tennis skill. He's got a terrific backhand, moves his shots all over the court and plays the percentages with a throwback sense of timing and touch. He's nearly a top-10 player at No. 13 in the rankings, and a magical week in Brazil could boost him to being a next-level star.

Team USA Outlook

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Jack Sock and Madison Keys could possibly team up for mixed doubles.

The American men do not have their top-ranked player, world No. 17 Isner, who chose to play the BB&T Atlanta Open where he has been the champion for the three previous years.

Instead, they are led by 23-year-old Sock, a strong Nebraskan with a hard-hitting forehand who is the new face of American men's tennis. Sock has been moving toward the top 20 and has been competing for the U.S. Davis Cup team for a year. He's seeded No. 14, which is a long shot for a medal, but he has the talent to hit through bigger stars.

The other three men competing are No. 12 seed Steve Johnson who had a strong grass-courts season centered around Wimbledon. Denis Kudla and Brian Baker, scrappy players but not with the kind of talent that will win medals.

The men are not expected to win any medals in singles or doubles, unless one of the Williams sisters or Madison Keys pairs up with Sock in mixed doubles. The biggest blow came when Bob and Mike Bryan decided not to attend the Olympics, so veteran Rajeev Ram was added to play doubles with Brian Baker. The chance of them achieving a medal is small.

Predictions for the Biggest Tennis Stars

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Novak Djokovic is the best player in the world and a strong favorite to win the singles gold medal.

Djokovic will capture gold for another career milestone. The only player truly standing in his way is rival Murray who has defeated the Serbian at the 2015 Rogers Cup final and 2016 Rome final in the past year. If he is fresh and playing his best tennis, he could upset Djokovic, but we don’t think Djokovic will be denied.

We are going to remind sports audiences to pay attention to Croatians Cilic and Borna Coric, and we could see one of them sliding in for a bronze medal behind Djokovic and Murray.

Other quarterfinal candidates include Bulgaria’s Dimitrov, Belgium’s Goffin and France’s dangerous duo of Wilfried Tsonga and Monfils. Any of them could surprise for a medal, and if Cilic slips, look at one of them to come in for the prize.

Nadal might not get past first-round opponent Federico Delbonis, a fellow lefty who hails from South America and is in playing shape right now. It won't be easy for Nadal to get to a potential semifinal against Djokovic, and if he does, he will likely be sent to the bronze-medal match.

Doubles? How about the Murray brothers getting gold medals together. Why not gold? They might continue to deny France's depth as they did in Davis Cup competition last year and as Andy so often does at majors such as Wimbledon.

Regardless, it will be a fun event for the superstars, at least for those who win.