Novak Djokovic is going for his first gold medal in tennis at the Paris Games

Olympics 2024 Tennis Draw Preview: Djokovic, Nadal, Swiatek, Gauff

Carlos Alcaraz and Barbora Krejcikova won Wimbledon titles less than two weeks ago.

But already the two stars, along with Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Iga Swiatek, and Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini, among others, are primed for another big event: 2024 Olympics tennis in Paris.

UTR Sports has all of the details as we preview the next week of clay-court tennis at Roland Garros, the site of the season's second Grand Slam tournament as well.

Eight Players to Watch at 2024 Olympics Tennis in Paris: Saturday, July 27 to Sunday, August 4

Novak Djokovic is trying to win his eighth Wimbledon title on Sunday against Carlos Alcaraz

Novak Djokovic (UTR Rating 16.22)

The quest continues for the 37-year-old Djokovic. He’s done almost everything in the sport, save for winning the calendar-year Grand Slam and wearing an Olympic gold medal. He’ll be playing in his fifth Olympics and will seek to avenge his fourth-place finish in Tokyo in 2021.

The top seed does not have a straightforward draw: Djokovic could face longtime rival Rafael Nadal, in what would be their 60th meeting. Djokovic leads the series 30-29.

Rafael Nadal races to hit a volley at Roland Garros

Rafael Nadal (UTR Rating 15.66)

Nadal is signed up to play Laver Cup later this year. So, in theory, this isn’t his last tournament. But the 38-year-old also hasn’t set a firm date for his farewell.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist has the friendliest of venues for him, his second home at Roland Garros in Paris. Nadal is also coming off a trip to the finals on clay in Bastad, the first time he’d reached a final since the 2022 Roland Garros.

He opens against Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics (UTR Rating 15.75) before the potential matchup against Djokovic. Nadal is also in the men’s doubles draw with reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz.

Andy Murray (UTR Rating 15.42)

This will be the Scot’s final tournament. “Arrived in Paris for my last ever tennis tournament: Olympics. Competing for [Great Britain] have been by far the most memorable weeks of my career and I’m extremely proud to get do it one final time!” Murray wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Just like at Wimbledon, Murray had to withdraw from singles but is slated to play men’s doubles with his brother Jamie for a final farewell.

Carlos Alcaraz fights at Roland Garros 2024

Carlos Alcaraz (UTR Rating 16.33)

Having won Roland Garros just last month, Alcaraz is the most in-form clay-court player in the world now. But how will he transition from grass to clay? And how will he perform under the Spanish flag at the Olympics for the first time?

The event is missing his key rival, Italian Jannik Sinner (UTR Rating 16.31), who withdrew because of tonsillitis. Alcaraz's first potential clash with a seeded player would be 15th seed Alejandro Tabilo of Chile in the third round.

Four players to watch in the Olympics women’s singles draw

Iga Swiatek (UTR Rating 13.24)

Understatement alert: Anything but a gold medal for Swiatek will be surprising and surely a disappointment for the top-seeded Pole.

Swiatek has three titles and 35 of the 37 matches she’s played at Roland Garros, the host venue of Olympic tennis. Swiatek opens against Irina-Camelia Begu (UTR Rating 12.33) of Romania.

Coco Gauff prepares for her first Olympic Games in tennis in Paris

Coco Gauff (UTR Rating 12.80)

Neither Swiatek nor Gauff had the Wimbledon they were hoping for, so both are probably pleased to be back sliding on the red dirt. Gauff and Swiatek met in the Roland Garros semifinals earlier this year, and it’s not a matchup that has favored the second-seeded American. Swiatek leads their series 11-1.

Gauff opens against Aussie Ajia Tomljanovic, who famously beat Serena Williams in her final match at the 2022 US Open. It will be their first meeting.

Before that, she and LeBron James will be the flag bearers for the U.S. Olympic Team at the opening ceremony. Gauff is the first tennis player to serve as a flag bearer for the U.S. Olympic Team.

Jasmine Paolini smiles at Wimbledon while improving her UTR Rating

Jasmine Paolini (UTR Rating 12.70)

Paolini, the Roland Garros and Wimbledon finalist, is having the season of her life and will be competing in the Olympics for the second time.

Paolini could have a rematch of her Roland Garros semifinal in the second round of the Olympics against 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva (UTR Rating 12.60), whom she beat 6-3, 6-1 at the same venue.

Naomi Osaka prepares to hit a serve while improving her UTR Rating

Naomi Osaka (UTR Rating 12.57)

Three years after lighting the cauldron at the Tokyo Games, Osaka is back in the Olympics, eager to continue her comeback. The 26-year-old has won four Grand Slam titles but has never reached past the third round of the clay-court major championship, nor has she won an Olympic medal.

Osaka could send Germany’s Angelique Kerber (UTR Rating 12.18) into retirement, as the 36-year-old plans to end her tennis career after the Olympics.

UTR Ratings accurate as of 10 a.m. ET Friday, July 26, 2024.

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