August 2024
August saw the Olympic Games held in Paris, followed by the Tours travelling to North America.
Djokovic and Zheng strike gold, Murray bows out
Held on the clay of Roland Garros, the Olympic Games promised to be an interesting week, with 14-time champion at the venue Rafael Nadal playing a key role in the Opening Ceremony, alongside Serena Williams. Nadal met Novak Djokovic in the Second Round, with their sixtieth meeting being dominated by the Serb. Nadal also teamed up with Carlos Alcaraz in the doubles event, but the pair exited in the Quarter Finals.
Two-time gold medallist Andy Murray announced that the Doubles would be his last ever tournament, alongside Dan Evans. The Brits had two memorable wins, saving a combined 7 match points, but eventually falling in the Quarter Finals. The former world number 1 and 3-time Grand Slam champion is the second of the Big Four to retire.
Jannik Sinner missed out due to tonsillitis, but in his absence, the two top seeds made the Gold medal match of the Men’s Singles, and in a sensational contest, Djokovic beat Alcaraz in two tiebreaks to win a first ever Gold medal, at the fifth attempt. It means he has now won every big title in the sport. Alcaraz took silver, and Lorenzo Musetti beat Felix Auger-Aliassime to the bronze medal.
In the women’s event, world number 1 Iga Swiatek was the overwhelming favourite to take gold for Poland, having not lost at the venue since 2021, and with the likes of Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina missing out. But Swiatek was stunned in the Semi Finals by Qinwen Zheng from China in straight sets. Zheng faced Wimbledon Semi Finalist Donna Vekic in the gold medal match, and triumphed to take home the gold medal and biggest title of her young career so far. Vekic took silver, and Swiatek did recover to beat Anna Schmiedlova and win the bronze medal.
Popyrin wins first Masters title, Sinner also triumphs
Montreal began just days after the Olympics ended, so understandably Djokovic and Alcaraz skipped the event, with Djokovic also skipping Cincinnati. Sinner did recover in time to play, and made the Quarter Finals, where he was beaten by Andrey Rublev. Alex Zverev was beaten at the same stage by Seb Korda, leaving the event wide open. Rublev beat Matteo Arnaldi in the Semi Finals to make his second Masters Final of the year, and Alexei Popyrin continued his great form throughout the week by beating Korda to join Rublev in the Final. The Australian would go on to beat Rublev and win his first Masters title.
Alcaraz’s return in Cincinnati was short lived, as he lost his first match to Gael Monfils. Sinner overcame Zverev in an epic three-setter to reach the Final, and Frances Tiafoe also had a narrow victory, over Holger Rune. Sinner beat Tiafoe to win his third Masters title.
Pegula and Sabalenka win WTA 1000 titles
Toronto was without Swiatek and gold medallist Zheng, but still boasted a high quality field. Gauff was beaten in the Third Round by Diana Shnaider, and Sabalenka was beaten in the Quarter Finals by Amanda Anisimova. Jessica Pegula took out Shnaider in the Semi Finals, and Anisimova beat Emma Navarro to reach the Final too. Pegula won in three sets to lift her third career WTA 1000 title.
Pegula carried her strong form over to Cincinatti, where she made the Final again, beating Paula Badosa in the Semi Finals. She would face Sabalenka, after she beat Swiatek in convincing fashion in a blockbuster Semi Final. Sabalenka went on to win the Final in straight sets, for her first ever Cincinnati title.
Sinner cleared of wrongdoing after doping investigation
World number 1 Jannik Sinner was found to have traces of a banned substance called clostebol in his system in March of this year, but the International Tennis Integrity Agency found the violation to be non-intentional. The Italian is allowed to continue playing, and will be in the draw for the upcoming US Open.
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