While the tennis world recovers from the dramatic Summer Olympics, the new ATP rankings display a fascinating game of musical chairs! With top players scattered across the globe pursuing glory in the Olympics, some chose a different road. Sebastian Korda was among them who decided to skip the Olympics, handing over the entire pressure of representing his nation, the U.S.A., to his fellow countryman, Taylor Fritz! The former World No. 5 player put in all his efforts, but in the end, it was Korda whose strategic decision paid him off.

The ATP rankings have always been a game of inches, with it sometimes being fair to the players and sometimes not quite so. The latest victim of this is Fritz, whom we saw win in men’s doubles with his partner Tommy Paul and bring a bronze medal to America. But Fritz’s choice to play three events in the Olympics (doubles, singles, and mixed doubles) over traditional tours has come at a cost.

The Summer Olympics might be the most esteemed event in tennis, but it comes with a lack of ranking points, which means Fritz’s efforts did not translate to a boost in the standings. Instead, the 26-year-old player slipped from his World No. 12 ranking to No. 13. Meanwhile, Korda had a master plan to not lose his points and ranking!

The former World No. 18 player, Korda, opted out of the Games and seized the moment to dominate the Washington event, which carries 500 valuable points. It proved to be quite fruitful for the 24-year-old player who triumphed in the Citi Open, ultimately, leapfrogging Fritz in the rankings. Korda, who defeated the first-time finalist at the event, Flavio Cobolli, by 4-6, 6-2, and 6-0, quickly climbed to World No. 20. 

Fritz’s gamble may have earned him a medal, but Korda’s pragmatic approach has paid off in the short term. However, Fritz has his eyes on the Canadian Open as of now and if he manages to win, his 1000 points will be secured for now, which can again help him rise in the ATP rankings. But, let’s not forget that Korda will be performing in Toronto as well! 

Therefore, it’s certainly going to be a treat for fans who can watch how the two American players compete for a higher rank! Even though Fritz failed to climb up the ranking, he might never regret the opportunity to play at the Olympics, especially when it involves representing his own country, as he himself revealed earlier.

Fritz reveals why he did not want to skip the 2024 Summer Olympics

Ahead of the Olympics, Fritz appeared for an interview and revealed his decision to not follow the trend of withdrawing from the Olympics. This list includes players like Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton, and Madison Keys. Justifying his decision, the former World No. 5 player said,

“I don’t know where I’m going to be in four years. I’m going to be 30. I hope I’m going to play in (the Los Angeles Olympics), and even if I do, I wouldn’t want that to be my first Olympics. I kind of want to get this experience and really give myself the absolute best chance to perform in LA.”

Furthermore, he opened up about how he wants to look at the “bigger picture” and represent his country. But at the same time, he said, “I understand why some of the other guys would want to try to play those tournaments (in the U.S.) and pick up the points.”

Fritz‘s third round exit in the singles and quarterfinal elimination in the mixed doubles, along with Coco Gauff, indeed disappointed his fans. But his bronze medal victory washed away all our sadness. Now, as the ATP season heats up, Fritz will need to regroup and refocus to reclaim his spot among the elite!