Players Won’t Get ATP Or WTA Rankings Points At The Olympics, Reaction Is Mixed
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This year the ATP has pulled ranking points from the upcoming Rio Olympics games. Since entries are based on country rankings, players with few players from their homeland will get in and receive points over those from deep countries like France who can’t get in. So the ATP decided to take away the points, and the reaction has been mixed.
Defending champion Andy Murray doesn’t really care that points won’t be offered.
“I think the reason I’m playing there is to try and win medals it’s not necessarily for ranking points,” Murray said.
“There are different reasons for playing tournaments,” he said. “And for me Davis Cup and Olympics, I’m not playing for ranking points.”
But John Isner, who will not play the Olympics, said it was it was a “very, very big factor” in his decision not to go to Rio.
Stan Wawrinka agreed. “It’s a big tournament,” he said. “You should have some points like we had the last few times. That’s for sure.”
But gold medalist Venus Williams took the other side.
“Who needs ranking points if you’re playing for a gold medal?” she said. “Gotta get your life in perspective. Get your life. I’m trying to get a gold. I don’t need any points.”
And Milos Raonic also doesn’t care about points. “Points or no points, it doesn’t really matter,” Raonic said. “I think the goal and the target is very simple, and you’re there to win a medal. The shinier the better.”
The Olympic tennis event begins in Rio on August 6.
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