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December 23, 2024
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The 5 players to win Wimbledon and Olympic gold in same season


Wimbledon may be done for another year, but there is no rest for players or fans – with a huge summer of action in the works.

That is due to the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, with the tennis competition starting in the opening week of Paris 2024, held at Roland Garros.

After their SW19 triumphs, Carlos Alcaraz and Barbora Krejcikova – a doubles gold medallist in Tokyo – will head in full of confidence as they eye up further success.

And history suggests both may have a chance, with five singles players winning Wimbledon and Olympic gold in the same summer since the sport returned to Olympic action in 1988.

1988: Steffi Graf

In one of the most famous seasons in tennis, Graf won all four major titles up for grabs and then gold at Seoul 1988 – the only ‘Golden Calendar Slam’ in tennis history.

The German won her third major of the season at SW19 by downing six-time defending champion Martina Navratilova, taking home the first of her seven Wimbledon titles.

With the Olympics not until late September, Graf completed the Calendar Slam by beating Gabriela Sabatini in the US Open final.

The 19-year-old beat her Argentine rival again in South Korea, completing perhaps the most remarkable season in tennis history.

2000: Venus Williams

Twelve years on from Graf, 20-year-old Venus also completed the Wimbledon-US Open-Olympic triple in the best run of her entire career.

The American won the first of five SW19 titles by beating Lindsay Davenport in the women’s final at Wimbledon and then beat Davenport again for the US Open crown.

On a lengthy unbeaten run, Venus then claimed Olympic singles gold in Sydney, defeating future champion Elena Dementieva for the title.

Venus also won the first of three doubles golds alongside sister Serena in Sydney.

Is Carlos Alcaraz the greatest 21-year-old tennis has seen – or were other young stars better?

The 7 men with the most Olympic match wins: Novak Djokovic No 1, Andy Murray with a near perfect record
Rafael Nadal reacts to Carlos Alcaraz’s Wimbledon triumph against Novak Djokovic

2008: Rafael Nadal

Nadal has had a career largely beyond description and his 2008 season remains one of the very best of his entire career.

The Spaniard demolished Roger Federer in the French Open final that year and then finally claimed his first Wimbledon title, beating the Swiss great in arguably the greatest men’s singles final in history.

The 22-year-old went into the Beijing 2008 Games as one of the gold medal favourites and delivered, beating Fernando Gonzalez in the final.

2012: Serena Williams

Serena’s dominance throughout the mid-2010s started with an epic summer in 2012.

She started by claiming her fifth singles title at the All England Club, beating Agnieszka Radwanska in three sets to regain her title.

Just four weeks later she was back on Centre Court for the London 2012 Games and downed Maria Sharapova, losing just one game in the final to claim her sole singles gold.

She also won the women’s doubles alongside Venus – and would go on to win the US Open.

2016: Andy Murray

The only male or female player to win two Olympic singles golds, some of Murray’s most memorable moments came in action at the games.

And the summer of 2016 proved to be one of the most defining summers of his legendary career, starting with Wimbledon glory.

The Brit defeated Milos Raonic to win his second and final title at Wimbledon, prevailing in straight sets for his third major title.

Later that summer he successfully defended his Olympic crown, battling past Juan Martin del Potro in a thrilling final.

WTA Rankings: Iga Swiatek No 1, Danielle Collins and Barbora Krejcikova top 10, Lulu Sun and Emma Raducanu top 100

The 14 women to win Grand Slams on multiple surfaces in 21st Century – ft. Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Barbora Krejcikova

ATP Rankings: Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz survive, Alex de Minaur No 6, Lorenzo Musetti top 20, Chris Eubanks -66



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