If not for emerging from a storm-interrupted Beijing Olympic tennis schedule 16 years ago, Roger Federer’s and Stan Wawrinka’s respective prized hauls would lack a rare, gilded distinction only a handful of the sport’s greats have a chance to achieve.
While Grand Slam tournaments stand as the pinnacle of professional tennis, Olympic gold medals hold a special pride of place in a nation’s sporting fabric.
Neither Federer nor Wawrinka managed to triumph in singles at the Games, which made their men’s doubles gold from 2008 more noteworthy.
Olympic doubles events take on an added significance for players who typically focus their efforts on singles as they afford further opportunities to feature on the podium.
As they drew on patriotism, what the Swiss lacked as a proven, tested commodity in tandem, they made up for with an outstanding champions’ mentality to deliver under the pump.
In Beijing, Federer and Wawrinka upstaged experienced Grand Slam doubles champions Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi and top-ranked US doubles specialists Bob and Mike Bryan in the same day, due to inclement weather, for a place in the gold medal match.
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After their legendary semifinal celebration in which Federer warmed his hands above an on-fire Wawrinka, who lay prone on court, the pair went on to defeat Swedes Simon Aspelin and Thomas Johansson in the final, and repeated the celebration.
“I’m thrilled. It’s a big moment,” Federer said. “It’s a dream-come-true moment. It comes around maybe once in a lifetime.”
In hindsight, his words rang true. At the time, Federer was yet to claim an Olympic gold medal or Roland Garros. He achieved both within 12 months, while the closest he came to another Olympic gold was a singles silver medal at London 2012.
Two-time Australian Open champion and former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka was also an acclaimed Olympic singles gold medal hope, only she landed her triumph in mixed doubles instead.
Azarenka picked up a singles bronze medal at London 2012 after defeating Maria Kirilenko in straight sets but combined with Max Mirnyi to go two better when they beat home hopes Andy Murray and Laura Robson for mixed gold.
“It’s been a dream come true for me to achieve gold because I think every athlete in the world is dreaming about this prize to get,” Azarenka said. “You don’t get so many chances.”
After back-to-back Grand Slam singles finals, Italian Jasmine Paolini was considered a strong chance at a medal as the fourth seed in singles in Paris this year before Slovak Anna Karolina Schmiedlova halted her in the third round.
A finalist in doubles at Roland Garros last month alongside Sara Errani, the Italian pair reunited for the Olympic women’s doubles, where as the No.3 seeds, they remain alive in the quarterfinals and are a realistic shot at going all the way.
Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova won 10 straight matches from the All England Club to the clay in Paris – the site of her first singles major in 2021 – before unseeded Slovak Anna Karolina Schmiedlova surprised her in the quarterfinals.
While the Czech’s hopes of singles gold were dashed, she and Katerina Siniakova have reprised their partnership in Paris where they have advanced to the semifinals and firmed as favourites to claim a second straight doubles gold.
After the disappointment of losing his singles third round to Lorenzo Musetti, seventh seed Taylor Fritz kept his hopes burning for doubles glory alongside Tommy Paul.
While only considered an outside chance at a medal in singles, the American has a strong chance at a men’s doubles triumph. He and Paul, the No.3 seeds, are the only seeded duo left in the top half and face Brits Murray and Dan Evans for a semifinal berth.
“I always loved team sports and I’ve always loved to represent Team USA in Davis Cup and the United Cup,” Fritz told People.
“So, this is the ultimate.”