Andy Murray could make Olympic tennis history in Rio
What you need to know for the men's tennis tourney at Rio 2016
Here's a quick guide to what, when and who to watch in the men's tennis tournament at the Rio Olympics.
History repeating?
Defending Olympic champion Andy Murray won't have home court advantage this time around. While London 2012's event was hosted on the grass courts at the All-England Lawn Tennis Club, the 2016 edition of the tourney will be played on the hardcourts of Rio.
However, the world No. 2 is looking to become the only man to ever repeat as Olympic champion and enters Rio on a roll. Murray captured his second Wimbledon title in July, and his top competition — Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal — are either missing in action, or looking vulnerable.
- Federer exited Wimbledon in the semifinals and was nursing a knee injury, needing treatment during his loss to Milos Raonic, and declared his season over on July 26.
- Nadal is still a question mark with a wrist injury and hasn't played a game since May.
- Djokovic looked uncharacteristically off his game in a quarterfinal loss at Wimbledon, but may be the best hardcourt player of his generation. He did win his final tournament before Rio, capturing the title at the Rogers Cup (also hardcourt) in Toronto.
Raonic out, Nestor in
Milos Raonic made it all the way to the Wimbledon final, but the Canadian won't step foot in Rio for a rematch with Murray.
Raonic's decision to withdraw from the Olympics, due to health concerns including the Zika virus, opened up a spot for Daniel Nestor. The doubles specialist from Toronto (who won gold in Athens in 2004) will team up with Vasek Pospisil, of Vernon, B.C., in the hopes of challenging for a medal.
No longer standing in their way are the American Bryan brothers, Bob and Mike. The defending Olympic champions backed out of the Games citing health concerns.
Long shots
Aside from the usual suspects, Juan Martin del Potro may have the best chance at the Olympic final in men's singles. The Argentine has been plagued by injury since his 2009 U.S. Open title, but may be rounding back into form ahead of the Olympics, and will look to improve upon the bronze medal he won in 2012.
The format
Olympic medals are up for grabs in men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles events.
The matches are single-elimination format and are played in best-of -three sets, each one with six games.
The match format is much like a Grand Slam tourney; the first to win six games wins the set, except if there is a 5-5 draw, in which case there are two other games. If there is another draw at 6-6, the set is decided in a tiebreak of seven points.
One variation in this format is the men's singles finals, which is decided in a best-of-five sets format and the final set is played as a tiebreak, if necessary.
The draw
The tournament begins on Saturday, Aug. 6 with the men's doubles medal matches on Aug. 12, men's singles bronze match on Aug. 13, and men's gold match on Aug. 14.
For a full schedule, click here.