Tennis at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's singles

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Men's singles
Tennis at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Final
ChampionFlag of Spain.svg  Rafael Nadal  (ESP)
Runner-upFlag of Chile.svg  Fernando González  (CHI)
Score6–3, 7–6(7–2), 6–3
Events
Singles men women
Doubles men women
Qualification
  2004  · Summer Olympics ·  2012  

Men's singles tennis
at the Games of the XXIX Olympiad
Rafael Nadal 2011 Roland Garros 2011.jpg
Rafael Nadal (2011)
Venue Olympic Green Tennis Centre, Beijing
Dates10–17 August 2008
Medalists
Gold medal icon.svg Rafael Nadal Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
Silver medal icon.svg Fernando González Flag of Chile.svg  Chile
Bronze medal icon.svg Novak Djokovic Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  Serbia
  2004
2012  

Spain's Rafael Nadal defeated Chile's Fernando González in the final, 6–3, 7–6(7–2), 6–3 to win the gold medal in Men's Singles tennis at the 2008 Summer Olympics. The win gave him the third of five components of the career Golden Slam, having already won the French Open and Wimbledon. He would go on to win the Australian Open and the U.S. Open to become the second man (after Andre Agassi) to complete the career Golden Slam in singles. Following the event, Nadal became the world No. 1 for the first time, ending Roger Federer's record streak of 237 consecutive weeks with the top ranking. [1] González became the first man to win a medal in men's singles across consecutive Olympiads since Charles Winslow in 1920. In the bronze medal match, Serbia's Novak Djokovic defeated the United States' James Blake, 6–3, 7–6(7–4). It was Serbia's first Olympic tennis medal.

Contents

The tournament was held from August 10 to August 17 at the Olympic Green Tennis Centre in Beijing, China. The DecoTurf surface rendered the event a hardcourt competition. There were 64 players from 33 nations. [2]

Chile's Nicolás Massú was the reigning gold medalist from 2004, but he lost to Argentina's David Nalbandian in the second round.

Background

This was the 13th (medal) appearance of the men's singles tennis event. The event has been held at every Summer Olympics where tennis has been on the program: from 1896 to 1924 and then from 1988 to the current program. Demonstration events were held in 1968 and 1984.

The number one seed was Roger Federer of Switzerland, making his third Olympic appearance. But number-two seed Rafael Nadal of Spain was favored, with recent wins at the French Open and Wimbledon and closing in on taking the #1 ranking from Federer. [2] Nadal was making his Olympic debut along with Serbian player Novak Djokovic, who joined the rest of the Big Three in the top three seeds. Andy Murray of Great Britain also competed at the Olympics for the first time. Four of the eight quarterfinalists from 2004 returned: gold medalist Nicolás Massú and bronze medalist Fernando González of Chile and quarterfinalists Tomáš Berdych of the Czech Republic and Mikhail Youzhny of Russia.

The People's Republic of China, El Salvador, Latvia, Serbia, and Togo each made their debut in the event. France made its 12th appearance, most among all nations, having missed only the 1904 event.

Qualification

Qualification for the men's singles was primarily through the ATP ranking list of 9 June 2008. Nations had been limited to four players in the event since the 2000 Games. There were 64 quota places available for men's singles. The first 56 were assigned through the world ranking. There were two Tripartite Commission invitation places and 6 final qualification places allocated by the ITF based on continental and national representation along with world rankings.

Competition format

The competition was a single-elimination tournament with a bronze medal match. Matches were in best-of-3 sets, except for the final which was in best-of-5 sets. No tiebreak was played in the final set.

Schedule

August1011121314151617
Morning10.3010.3010.30
Afternoon17.0017.0017.0016.0016.0016.0016.0016.00
Round of 64Round of 64Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsBronzeFinal

Seeds

0 1.  Flag of Switzerland.svg  Roger Federer  (SUI)(quarterfinals)
0 2.  Flag of Spain.svg  Rafael Nadal  (ESP) (champion, gold medalist)
0 3.  Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  Novak Djokovic  (SRB)(semifinals, bronze medalist)
0 4.  Flag of Russia.svg  Nikolay Davydenko  (RUS)(second round)
0 5.  Flag of Spain.svg  David Ferrer  (ESP)(first round)
0 6.  Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Andy Murray  (GBR)(first round)
0 7.  Flag of Argentina.svg  David Nalbandian  (ARG)(third round)
0 8.  Flag of the United States.svg  James Blake  (USA)(semifinals, fourth place)
0 9.  Flag of Switzerland.svg  Stanislas Wawrinka  (SUI)(second round)
10.  Flag of France.svg  Gilles Simon  (FRA)(third round)
11.  Flag of Spain.svg  Nicolás Almagro  (ESP)(first round)
12.  Flag of Chile.svg  Fernando González  (CHI)(final, silver medalist)
13.  Flag of Russia.svg  Mikhail Youzhny  (RUS)(third round)
14.  Flag of Croatia.svg  Ivo Karlović  (CRO)(withdrew because of a stomach illness)
15.  Flag of Germany.svg  Nicolas Kiefer  (GER)(third round)
16.  Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Radek Štěpánek  (CZE)(first round)
17.  Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Tomáš Berdych  (CZE)(third round)

Click on the seed number of a player to go to their draw section.

Draw

Key

Finals

Quarterfinals Semifinals Final (gold-medal match)
                 
1 Flag of Switzerland.svg  Roger Federer  (SUI)4 62 
8 Flag of the United States.svg  James Blake  (USA)677 
8 Flag of the United States.svg  James Blake  (USA)65 9
12 Flag of Chile.svg  Fernando González  (CHI)4 711
 Flag of France.svg  Paul-Henri Mathieu  (FRA)4 4  
12 Flag of Chile.svg  Fernando González  (CHI)66 
12 Flag of Chile.svg  Fernando González  (CHI)3 623   
2 Flag of Spain.svg  Rafael Nadal  (ESP)6776  
 Flag of France.svg  Gaël Monfils  (FRA)61 4
3 Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  Novak Djokovic  (SRB)4 66
3 Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  Novak Djokovic  (SRB)4 64 Bronze-medal match
2 Flag of Spain.svg  Rafael Nadal  (ESP)61 6
 Flag of Austria.svg  Jürgen Melzer  (AUT)0 4  8 Flag of the United States.svg  James Blake  (USA)3 64 
2 Flag of Spain.svg  Rafael Nadal  (ESP)66 3 Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  Novak Djokovic  (SRB)677 

Top half

Section 1

First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals
1 Flag of Switzerland.svg  R Federer  (SUI)66 
 Flag of Russia.svg  D Tursunov  (RUS)4 2  1 Flag of Switzerland.svg  R Federer  (SUI)66 
 Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg  H-t Lee  (KOR)63 4 INV Flag of El Salvador.svg  R Arevalo  (ESA)2 4  
INV Flag of El Salvador.svg  R Arevalo  (ESA)4 661 Flag of Switzerland.svg  R Federer  (SUI)677 
 Flag of Spain.svg  T Robredo  (ESP)4 66 17 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  T Berdych  (CZE)3 64 
 Flag of Italy.svg  A Seppi  (ITA)64 8 Flag of Italy.svg  A Seppi  (ITA)3 64 
Alt Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  X Yu  (CHN)1 2  17 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  T Berdych  (CZE)677 
17 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  T Berdych  (CZE)66 1 Flag of Switzerland.svg  R Federer  (SUI)4 62 
10 Flag of France.svg  G Simon  (FRA)66 8 Flag of the United States.svg  J Blake  (USA)677 
 Flag of Sweden.svg  R Söderling  (SWE)4 4  10 Flag of France.svg  G Simon  (FRA)76 
Alt Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  F Niemeyer  (CAN)62r Flag of Argentina.svg  G Cañas  (ARG)5 1  
 Flag of Argentina.svg  G Cañas  (ARG)3 4  10 Flag of France.svg  G Simon  (FRA)4 2  
 Flag of Brazil.svg  T Bellucci  (BRA)64 2 8 Flag of the United States.svg  J Blake  (USA)66 
PR Flag of Slovakia.svg  D Hrbatý  (SVK)2 66PR Flag of Slovakia.svg  D Hrbatý  (SVK)6363
 Flag of Australia.svg  C Guccione  (AUS)3 63 8 Flag of the United States.svg  J Blake  (USA)774 6
8 Flag of the United States.svg  J Blake  (USA)677 

Section 2

First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals
4 Flag of Russia.svg  N Davydenko  (RUS)66 
 Flag of Latvia.svg  E Gulbis  (LAT)4 2  4 Flag of Russia.svg  N Davydenko  (RUS)5 3  
 Flag of France.svg  P-H Mathieu  (FRA)776  Flag of France.svg  P-H Mathieu  (FRA)76 
 Flag of Ecuador (1900-2009).svg  N Lapentti  (ECU)642   Flag of France.svg  P-H Mathieu  (FRA)67 
INV Flag of Togo.svg  K Loglo  (TOG)3 2  15 Flag of Germany.svg  N Kiefer  (GER)3 5  
IP Flag of South Africa.svg  K Anderson  (RSA)66  IP Flag of South Africa.svg  K Anderson  (RSA)4 774
IP Flag of Belarus (1995-2012).svg  M Mirnyi  (BLR)3 1  15 Flag of Germany.svg  N Kiefer  (GER)6646
15 Flag of Germany.svg  N Kiefer  (GER)66  Flag of France.svg  P-H Mathieu  (FRA)4 4  
12 Flag of Chile.svg  F González  (CHI)66 12 Flag of Chile.svg  F González  (CHI)66 
IP Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  P Sun  (CHN)4 4  12 Flag of Chile.svg  F González  (CHI)66 
 Flag of Croatia.svg  M Čilić  (CRO)6656 Flag of Croatia.svg  M Čilić  (CRO)4 2  
 Flag of Argentina.svg  J Mónaco  (ARG)4 773 12 Flag of Chile.svg  F González  (CHI)66 
 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  O Rochus  (BEL)63 6 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  O Rochus  (BEL)0 3  
 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  I Minář  (CZE)3 63  Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  O Rochus  (BEL)772  
 Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  J Tipsarević  (SRB)7106  Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  J Tipsarević  (SRB)653 r
5 Flag of Spain.svg  D Ferrer  (ESP)682  

Bottom half

Section 3

First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals
7 Flag of Argentina.svg  D Nalbandian  (ARG)66 
Alt Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  S Zeng  (CHN)2 1  7 Flag of Argentina.svg  D Nalbandian  (ARG)776 
IP Flag of Chile.svg  N Massú  (CHI)67 IP Flag of Chile.svg  N Massú  (CHI)601  
 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  S Darcis  (BEL)4 5  7 Flag of Argentina.svg  D Nalbandian  (ARG)4 4  
 Flag of Italy.svg  S Bolelli  (ITA)5 64  Flag of France.svg  G Monfils  (FRA)66 
 Flag of Romania.svg  V Hănescu  (ROU)73 6 Flag of Romania.svg  V Hănescu  (ROU)4 65 
 Flag of France.svg  G Monfils  (FRA)63 6 Flag of France.svg  G Monfils  (FRA)677 
11 Flag of Spain.svg  N Almagro  (ESP)4 63  Flag of France.svg  G Monfils  (FRA)61 4
13 Flag of Russia.svg  M Youzhny  (RUS)66 3 Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  N Djokovic  (SRB)4 66
 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  J Vaněk  (CZE)4 1  13 Flag of Russia.svg  M Youzhny  (RUS)76 
 Flag of Finland.svg  J Nieminen  (FIN)64 4  Flag of Sweden.svg  T Johansson  (SWE)5 2  
 Flag of Sweden.svg  T Johansson  (SWE)4 6613 Flag of Russia.svg  M Youzhny  (RUS)633  
 Flag of Germany.svg  R Schüttler  (GER)66563 Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  N Djokovic  (SRB)776 
IP Flag of Japan.svg  K Nishikori  (JPN)4 773  Flag of Germany.svg  R Schüttler  (GER)4 2  
 Flag of the United States.svg  R Ginepri  (USA)4 4  3 Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  N Djokovic  (SRB)66 
3 Flag of Serbia (2004-2010).svg  N Djokovic  (SRB)66 

Section 4

First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  A Murray  (GBR)654  
 Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Y-h Lu  (TPE)776  Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Y-h Lu  (TPE)66 
 Flag of Argentina.svg  A Calleri  (ARG)66  Flag of Argentina.svg  A Calleri  (ARG)4 4  
Alt Flag of the Bahamas.svg  D Mullings  (BAH)1 1   Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Y-h Lu  (TPE)2 4  
 Flag of Brazil.svg  M Daniel  (BRA)7111 6  Flag of Austria.svg  J Melzer  (AUT)66 
 Flag of Austria.svg  J Melzer  (AUT)6968 Flag of Austria.svg  J Melzer  (AUT)66 
 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  F Dancevic  (CAN)63 2  9 Flag of Switzerland.svg  S Wawrinka  (SUI)4 0  
9 Flag of Switzerland.svg  S Wawrinka  (SUI)4 66 Flag of Austria.svg  J Melzer  (AUT)0 4  
16 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  R Štěpánek  (CZE)6659 2 Flag of Spain.svg  R Nadal  (ESP)66 
 Flag of France.svg  M Llodra  (FRA)4 7711 Flag of France.svg  M Llodra  (FRA)4 61
 Flag of the United States.svg  S Querrey  (USA)4 4   Flag of Russia.svg  I Andreev  (RUS)63 6
 Flag of Russia.svg  I Andreev  (RUS)66  Flag of Russia.svg  I Andreev  (RUS)4 2  
 Flag of Australia.svg  L Hewitt  (AUS)777 2 Flag of Spain.svg  R Nadal  (ESP)66 
IP Flag of Sweden.svg  J Björkman  (SWE)5 62  Flag of Australia.svg  L Hewitt  (AUS)1 2  
 Flag of Italy.svg  P Starace  (ITA)2 62 2 Flag of Spain.svg  R Nadal  (ESP)66 
2 Flag of Spain.svg  R Nadal  (ESP)63 6

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References

  1. "Gonzalez locks consecutive Olympic medal". The official website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. 15 August 2008. Archived from the original on 15 August 2008. Retrieved 17 August 2008.
  2. 1 2 "Singles, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 22 December 2020.