American men take home two medals in doubles at Paris Olympics

Two pairs of American men's doubles team made the semifinal of the 2024 Paris Olympics but the team of Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul lost in the semis so there could be no all-American final. Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek did make the final but could not bring home gold.

It is not like they didn't try, however. In a classic final against the Australian team of Matthew Ebden and John Peers defeated Ram and Krajicek 7-6(6) 6-7(1) 10-8. The match was played at an extremely high level between two experienced doubles teams and either team was worthy of winning.

The match was a great example of what the Olympics should be. Either team would have defeated anyone else they had faced in the final so there was no mistake that who won would be the deserved winner.

Americans take two of the medals in men's doubles at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Ram matched the silver medal that he won in 2016 when he partnered with Serena Williams. Ram is one of the most decorated doubles players ever, though being so close to gold again and not finishing.

American men did not medal in the 2020 games, and the team of Jack Sock and Steve Johnson won bronze in 2016. Bob and Mike Bryan were the last to win gold and that was in 2012.

With Paul and Fritz winning bronze, 2024 will be the first time in the Open era that two American teams medaled at the Olympics. Silver and bronze is still better than only one or the other, of course.

Paul and Fritz had an easier time during their entire match than Ram and Krajicek. The Americans won the first set 6-3 against Czechs Tomas Machac and Adam Paviasek and simply needed to hold serve after getting an early break in the second set. The final game was a bit troublesome, but Fritz was able to hold and the United States took the match 6-4.

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