4 tennis players who fell one win short of winning Olympic gold in singles event ft. Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova

While tennis players can showcase their talent and try their luck at Grand Slam events and other ATP/WTA titles each year, the Olympics present a much rarer opportunity to bring laurels for their country and add another prestigious title to their name.

Hence, for players who participate in the quadrennial Games, the stakes are perhaps higher compared to the annual Grand Slam tournaments.

In this regard, there are a few prominent tennis players who, although managed to secure a medal for their country, fell one win short of bagging the prestigious Olympic gold.

Let's take a look at a few such players:

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#4 Angelique Kerber

Former World No.1 Angelique Kerber has three major titles and an Olympic silver medal she won at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Additionally, two out of three major victories came after the German won her maiden Olympic medal in 2016 after losing to Puerto Rico's Monica Puig in the finals.

Currently ranked 217, the 2024 Paris Olympics marks her last event before retirement. Therefore, the ongoing Games translate to Kerber's final chance at an Olympic Gold and another major victory.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Kerber won her first-round match 7-5,6-3 against Japan's Naomi Osaka in a match that lasted a little over an hour.

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#3 Juan Martin Del Potro

Former tennis player Juan Martin Del Potro secured a career-high ranking of World No.3. After winning the US Open in 2019, the Argentinian became the only man besides the 'Big 3' to win a major title between the 2005 Australian Open and the 2012 US Open.

However, one of Del Potro's most prominent career highlights comes in the form of an Olympic silver medal that he won for his country in the 2016 Rio Olympics, wherein he beat the then World No.1 Novak Djokovic in the first round and got the better of Rafael Nadal in the semifinals before losing the gold to Andy Murray. In an intense match that took over four hours, Murray managed to get the better of the Argentinian 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5, depriving him of an Olympic Gold.

Juan Martin Del Potro after winning the silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics

Del Potro had previously won a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics where he again got the better of Djokovic to secure the medal.

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#2 Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova is one of the ten women to have won a Career Grand Slam, having won each of the four majors at least once (and the French Open twice in 2012 and 2014).

Considered one of the best tennis players throughout her career, the Russian won an Olympic silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics after losing to Serena Williams in the finals.

Maria Sharapova at the 2012 London Olympics

The victory came soon after her maiden French Open victory that helped her achieve her Career Grand Slam, following which, she was also given the honor of being Russia's flagbearer in London.

Making her debut at the Games as a third seed, Sharapova got the better of players like Kim Clijsters and Laura Robson before reaching the finals and securing her maiden and only Olympic medal.

Sharapova bid adieu to competitive tennis in 2020, and as she was banned from competing in the 2016 Rio Olympics, the Russian was deprived of a second chance to secure an Olympic medal, let alone a Gold.

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#1 Roger Federer

Swiss legend Roger Federer has participated in four Olympic Games during his two-decade-long career and has won medals across the men's singles and doubles categories. He won the Gold in the doubles event of the 2008 Beijing Olympics along with compatriot Stan Wawrinka. However, he could only manage a silver medal in the 2012 London Olympics.

Therefore, while the former World No.1 does have an Olympic gold to his name in doubles, he was deprived of winning one in the singles category owing to his loss to two-time Olympic gold medalist, Andy Murray.

Roger Federer (left) and Stan Wawrinka at the 2008 Beijing Olympics

In this regard, Olympic gold in the singles category is one of the very few accolades that the 20-time Grand Slam champion was deprived of during his illustrious tennis career that came to an end following his retirement in 2022.