Was Ill-Fated Rio Olympics Appearance a Mistake for Serena Williams?

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: August 10, 2016

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After a dismal stay in Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Summer Olympics, Serena Williams might consider this altered greeting for the standard postcard home: Wish I weren't here. 

Elina Svitolina defeated Williams, 6-4, 6-3, in the third round of the 2016 Games. The loss ends Williams' gold-medal title defense and brings her tournament to a shocking halt. 

Williams and her sister, Venus, lost their first-round match in doubles against Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova on Sunday. Venus will be playing with Rajeev Ram in mixed doubles, so she still has a shot at winning an Olympic medal in Rio. Serena, however, will be going home empty-handed.

Imagine that: Three rounds into the Olympics, Serena Williams has been reduced to being a spectator at mixed doubles. Not exactly a golden moment.

In a brief interview with a U.S. Tennis Association spokesperson, Williams said (via the Associated Press), "It didn't work out the way I wanted it to ... The better player won." 

One has to wonder if she'll look back on Rio and wonder what the point was.

The WTA Tour isn't issuing points for what happens at the Olympics. Thus this loss, however shocking, has zero impact on Williams' ranking or standing in the points race to Singapore.



Williams has four Olympic gold medals (one in singles and three in doubles). Another gold in singles would have bested Steffi Graf, who has one gold, a silver and a bronze.

Even if Williams had won another gold in Rio, however, its impact on her legacy would be minimal. Grand Slam titles carry far more weight than Olympic medals. 

Williams' decision to play in Rio could wind up being a setback. In late July, she withdrew from the Rogers Cup due to an inflamed shoulder. Judging from the unusually high number of double-faults Williams had in Rio, she may have been better served skipping the Olympics and resting up ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Tennis

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