With the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon in the rearview mirror, there is just one more Grand Slam – the U.S. Open – on the 2024 tennis schedule. However, that is not the lone huge event remaining on the calendar. It’s an Olympic year, so there will be another battle for a gold medal at the upcoming Paris Games.
It is a medal that has eluded Novak Djokovic up to this point in the 37-year-old’s illustrious career. Djokovic’s only medal has come in the form of bronze – 16 years ago (2008 in Beijing). The Serb is a favorite to get on the podium in Paris, but Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are the top two favorites for gold. On the Women’s side, world No. 1 and clay-court master Iga Swiatek leads the betting odds. Other contenders include Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina.
Let's take a look at the best bets to be made on both the Men’s and Women’s sides at the Olympics before play gets underway on Saturday.
- ALEXANDER ZVEREV
- CASPER RUUD
- DANIIL MEDVEDEV
- IGA SWIATEK
- NAOMI OSAKA
- DANIELLE COLLINS
Zverev In Stellar Form
The Tokyo Olympics three years ago (not four because it was postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic) saw Zverev win the gold medal. That tournament was on hard courts, but a switch to clay should be fine for the German.
After all, he has been outstanding on the crushed brick this season. Zverev captured the Rome title, finished runner-up at Roland Garros to Alcaraz and recently advanced to the Hamburg final. Given his current form, overall clay-court prowess and successful history at the Olympics, Zverev is a great bet at +500.
ALEXANDER ZVEREV
Clay Gives Ruud A Shot
It is probably a good idea to seek out players with longer odds – at least for the Men’s competition. First, Olympic matches are best-of-three as opposed to the best-of-five Grand Slam format. Shorter matches naturally are more of a crapshoot; any underdog has a better chance to take just two sets off a heavy favorite instead of three. Second, players are making a quick transition from grass to clay – which can throw off anyone’s rhythm.
The bottom line is that surprising results should be expected at the Olympics. Ruud obviously wouldn’t be a shock champion, but at +1200 odds, he is well back of the top pack. The Norwegian is a two-time runner-up at Roland Garros, and his clay-court exploits this season include a final appearance in Monte-Carlo and a title in Barcelona. On this surface, Ruud can never be discounted.
CASPER RUUD
Medvedev In With A Shout
Russians are again allowed to play in the Olympics – albeit not under the Russian flag. They are considered “Individual Neutral Athletes,” but whatever the distinction is, it won’t matter to Medvedev. He is there to win tennis matches and maybe even a gold medal. This should be the kind of tournament in which Medvedev thrives.
The quality of tennis at the Olympics can be expected to be somewhat low, as players are already fatigued from what has been a grueling spring and summer, and now they are switching surfaces. When things get ugly, Medvedev takes advantage. His style of play generally makes opponents beat themselves. Indeed, the former U.S. Open champion isn’t at his best on clay, but he is a capable all-court player.
DANIIL MEDVEDEV
Swiatek Back On Beloved Clay
On the WTA Tour, the court surface generally dictates a tournament’s outcome. When Swiatek is roaming her clay-court stomping grounds, the rest of the field has little chance. However, she is vulnerable when bigger hitters play against her on grass or hard courts.
Less than two months after lifting another trophy in Paris (her fourth), she is back at the same venue – and most importantly, on the same surface. It’s also worth noting that the 23-year-old Pole won clay-court titles in Madrid and Rome this spring. Simply looking unbeatable on clay, Swiatek has good value for gold even at -200.
IGA SWIATEK
Osaka Returns To Roland Garros
Only one woman came close to beating Swiatek at this year’s French Open. Naomi Osaka could not have come any closer. The 26-year-old from Japan had a match point to take down the No. 1 seed before falling 7-6(1), 1-6, 7-5.
Osaka has not done much since, but she must be considered a real factor at her sport’s biggest tournaments. She is a four-time major champion, having triumphed twice at the U.S. Open and Australian Open. Although clay is not her favorite surface, her Roland Garros performance against Swiatek proved she can beat anyone on any given day.
NAOMI OSAKA
Collins’ Last Chances On The Big Stage
Collins announced at the beginning of 2024 that she would retire at the end of this season. If she keeps her word, the 30-year-old American has just two huge events in her career remaining – the Olympics and the U.S. Open. Although a hard court probably gives Collins her best chance for a title, she is certainly in with a shot on the red stuff.
The former University of Virginia standout triumphed on the clay of Charleston this spring and made a run to the Rome semifinals. Collins is a fiery competitor who loves the limelight. The higher the stakes, the higher she takes her level of play. At +2500, she is well worth a shot.
DANIELLE COLLINS
