Novak Djokovic is at the forefront when it comes to the highest number of matches played and won in the Olympic Games. However, his winning percentage is not the best as three players have maintained a 100% record.
Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, secured his first-ever gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, marking his fifth appearance at the Games. It is no surprise then that he holds the record for the most matches played, currently standing at 25.
With this year’s Olympics at Roland Garros, Djokovic’s tally increased by six matches, further distancing himself from Roger Federer, who sits in second place with 18 matches. Kei Nishikori follows closely in third with 16 matches. Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal are tied for fourth place with 14 matches each, trailed by Fernando Gonzalez and Juan Martin del Potro.
Out of the seven players with the most matches played at the Olympics, only Djokovic and Nishikori competed in the singles event at Paris 2024.
When it comes to match wins, Djokovic now leads the way. Prior to Paris 2024, he was tied with Federer. Meanwhile, two-time singles gold medalist Murray boasts an almost perfect record at the Olympics.
Fernando Gonzalez, representing Chile, won three medals at two Olympic Games, including two in singles and one in men’s doubles. In the 2004 Athens Games, he clinched bronze in singles, and four years later, he finished as the runner-up to Nadal in the final at the 2008 Beijing Games.
Argentine Juan Martin del Potro also competed in two Olympics, receiving medals on both occasions. In the 2012 London Games, he defeated Djokovic in the bronze medal match, and in the 2016 Rio Games, he finished as the runner-up to Murray.
The top 10 men with the most clay-court titles see Rafael Nadal leading with 63, while Djokovic secures his 20th title.
Novak Djokovic claimed the men’s singles gold at the 2024 Paris Games, leaving Carlos Alcaraz to settle for the silver lining.
Kei Nishikori participated in his fourth Olympics in Paris, having previously featured in London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020. His sole medal came in Brazil, where he defeated Nadal to secure the bronze. In London and Tokyo, he reached the quarterfinals, while in Paris, he exited in the first round.
Rafael Nadal triumphed for Spain, winning gold at the 2008 Beijing Games by defeating Gonzalez. However, he was eliminated in the semifinals of the 2016 Rio Olympics by Del Potro. He also secured a gold medal in doubles in Rio. The Paris Games in 2024 marked his likely final appearance, where he lost in the second round of singles and the quarterfinals of doubles.
Andy Murray has played 13 singles matches at the Olympics, emerging victorious in 12 of them. His only defeat occurred in his first-ever match at the Games, where he was stunned by Lu Yen-hsun in the first round of the 2008 Beijing Games. Murray went on to win gold at the 2012 London Games and the 2016 Rio Games. Unfortunately, he missed the 2020 Tokyo Games due to injury and will only compete in doubles at the Paris Games. His winning percentage stands at 92.31%, not the best compared to Alexander Zverev, Andre Agassi, Miloslav Mecir, and Yevgeny Kafelnikov, who all boast 100% records but only played in one Olympic Games.
Although Federer does have an Olympic gold medal, he obtained it in men’s doubles alongside Stan Wawrinka at the 2008 Beijing Games. The 20-time Grand Slam winner finished fourth in the Sydney Games, exited in the second round at Athens 2004, reached the quarterfinals at Beijing 2008, and finished as the runner-up to Murray at London 2012.
Novak Djokovic’s record-breaking 19 match wins at the Olympics are spread across his appearances in 2008, 2012, 2021, and 2024. He won bronze in Beijing, finished fourth in London, exited in the first round in Rio, finished fourth again in Tokyo, and finally won gold in Paris.
Photo from Novak Djokovic Instagram
