Spain, powerhouse of Olympic tennis since Seoul 1988

Pablo Carreño's bronze medal in the men's individual tennis tournament of the Tokyo 2020 Games was the 13th (two of gold, seven of silver and four of bronze) of history for Spain, all of them achieved since the sport of racket returned to the Olympic program 33 years ago, in Seoul 1988. From that moment on, the Navy has been a world power in the medal table, fifth for quality and second for quantity (see tables). Including the 16 editions disputed since Athens 1896 until now, Spain ranks eighth and fifth in the classification according to these concepts.

The account was started precisely in Seoul by the best doubles pair that national tennis has ever had, the one formed with great success by Sergio Casal and Emilio Sánchez Vicario, who won the silver after falling in the final against Americans Flach and Seguso. In Barcelona 1992 three more arrived, the silver of Jordi Arrese, the bronze of Arantxa and the silver of Conchita Martínez together with Sánchez Vicario herself in doubles. Since then, the Navy has only failed in London 2012. Rafa Nadal, of course, has given him the two golds harvested so far: the individual achieved in Beijing 2008 against the Chilean Fernando González, and the doubles in Rio 2016 with Marc López against the Romanians Mergea and Tecau.

Arantxa is the Spanish leader in medals, with four, ahead of Conchita's three and Nadal and Ruano's two. The absolute dominator of all time is the American Venus Williams, with five, ahead of her sister Serena and the British Reginald Doherty.