Summer Tennis: Review and Predictions

This summer, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the Olympics offered a mix of expected and unexpected results. On the men's side, players like Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Novak Djokovic dominated the court and proved to be the new “big three.” The women, however, have had less consistency in recent years, lacking a triad of dominant players and marquee rivalries. This has made the women’s game unpredictable but also more exciting. Here’s a look back at the key highlights from the past few major tournaments, moments that defined this season on the court, and what to expect in the last grand slam of the 2024 season.

Roland Garros

Men’s Highlights: Rafael Nadal, the 14-time French Open champion, faced an unexpected early exit, as he struggled against the fourth seed Alexander Zverev, losing 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 in the first round. In the final, Zverev was ultimately outplayed by Carlos Alcaraz in a marathon four-hour, five-set match that ended 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2. Alcaraz’s triumph brought him closer to achieving a career Grand Slam and solidified his status as the leading force in men’s tennis.

Women's Highlights: 12th seed Jasmine Paolini beat fourth seed Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals, then played her way into the finals against Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) number one Iga Świątek. Świątek, having grown up on clay and winning the Roland Garros title the past two years, had a clear advantage in the match. Despite Paolini’s stellar play that granted her a berth in the finals, she was no match for Świątek and lost in a quick 6-2, 6-1. Świątek’s presence often appears to stabilize the field, reducing the likelihood of upsets, and her victories create a sense of continuity in the women’s game. However, women's tennis lacks consistency due to the unpredictable nature of the other players, which can lead to unexpected results. 

Wimbledon

Men’s Highlights: Alcaraz faced Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals, a rematch of their game in the 2023 semifinals. Medvedev, who had lost in a quick three-set match the previous year, had some work to do if he wanted a chance at the final. But, even after winning the first set, Medvedev couldn’t keep up with the defending champion, and Alcaraz advanced to the finals. There, he met Djokovic. In 2023, Alcaraz won the final after five rocky sets. This year, Alcaraz defeated 37-year-old Djokovic in straight sets with a tiebreaker in the third. It was an impressive display for the 21-year-old phenom, allowing him to join a distinguished club of back-to-back Wimbledon winners.

Women’s Highlights: Wimbledon was an unpredictable tournament, defying general trends and predictions. Świątek, the previous French Open winner, lost in the third round to unranked player Yulia Putintseva. Second seed Coco Gauff lost in the Round of 16 to Emma Navarro, the 19th seed. With these players out, Czech player and 31st seed Barbora Krejčíková was able to advance to the finals where she met Paolini. In an upset, Krejčíková secured her second major win in singles and her first grass-court victory. She was the second-lowest ranked player (No. 32) to win the singles title since 1975. And since Serena Williams won back-to-back Wimbledon titles in 2015 and 2016, there have been seven different champions in the past seven years of the tournament, confirming that there is no dominant force on the women’s side and that the Grand Slam championship is up for grabs. 

Olympics

Men’s Highlights: The doubles tournament saw the Australian duo of doubles players Matthew Ebden and John Peers claim gold, demonstrating superior teamwork and complementary skills that proved essential in the Olympic format. In singles, Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti claimed bronze by defeating Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime. The gold medal match featured a rematch between Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and Serbia’s Novak Djokovic—always a fan favorite. Djokovic emerged victorious, 7-6, 7-6, marking the first gold medal in tennis for Serbia as well as adding Djokovic to the list of only four other players with singles career Golden Slams.

Women's Highlights: The women’s singles tournament at the Olympics saw an unexpected result. Qinwen Zheng of China won the gold medal, first defeating top seed and favorite Iga Świątekin the semi-finals and then beating Croatia’s Donna Vekić in straight sets (6-2, 6-3) in the finals. Although Zheng had reached seventh seed in the French Open, she had not been a prominent name in previous major tournaments due to her consistent early-round exits. However, her first Olympic appearance was a success and highlighted her potential and ability to perform under pressure. Similarly, Vekić’s impressive run in the Olympics contrasted with her less notable performances in the major Open events once again confirmed that women’s tennis is unpredictable.

Predictions

In the upcoming months, you should expect Alcaraz to maintain his momentum and potentially capture his fifth grand slam title in the U.S. Open given his recent form and rising confidence. Sinner, the current world number one and earlier Australian Open winner, will give Alcaraz a new competitor besides his usual rival Djokovic. On the women's side, although winners have been more unpredictable, Gauff has a promising chance at winning her second U.S. Open title on her favorite hard court but has the challenge of beating Świątek, who is set to continue her dominance as WTA number one. Although Aryna Sabalenka has had trouble securing titles, she is an aggressive player who has the potential to climb the ranks, especially after her recent win at the Cincinnati Open.