The Mediterranean Games is a multi-sport event that is held every four years. It is managed by the International Committee of Mediterranean Games that has 26 active members as of 2024. These members are countries from Asia, Africa, and Europe that border the Mediterranean Sea.
The maiden Mediterranean Games were held in 1951. Tennis was introduced to the list of sports in 1963. Till 1975, only men’s singles and men’s doubles were hosted. It was in 1979 when women’s singles and doubles were added. Tennis has since been a regular feature of the Mediterranean Games.
Each event follows a format where players are pitted against each other in a single elimination knockout draw. A match is won when a player or pair wins two of the three sets. A set win is when six games are won. A set score of six games apiece leads to a tiebreak. Winning seven points with a difference of two in this tiebreak secures the set. A set tiebreak is played in doubles if a third set needs to be played. The winner of this set (and eventually the match) is the pair who wins ten points with a distinct lead of two points.
In its latest edition held in 2022, the Mediterranean Games saw nearly 70 athletes compete in tennis. Tennis players from Spain and Italy have been the most successful nations at the Mediterranean Games, winning a total of 56 and 47 medals respectively. Both nations are tied at 17 gold medals each.
Laura Pous Tio is the most successful player across all disciplines of tennis, winning a total of four medals, three of which are gold. Manuel Santana and Juan Gisbert also have four medals each. While Santana has two, Gisbert has won one gold medal. As of 2024, only ten players have won three or more medals in tennis.
