RIO 2016

[delPoFearhand]

Bold prediction: the Williams sisters losing early will help Madison Keys break through to more of the "mainstream" audience in the U.S. Especially if she manages to upset Kerber, but either way she will be the top American female tennis player in singles action this weekend (either Gold or Bronze medal match).

If she does go off and wins the whole thing, I think it might get played up as a "passing of the baton"... although I don't think Serena is quite done winning yet, but still.

What do you mean by mainstream audience in the U.S.?

I mean the general, non-tennis watching (or only watches the late rounds of a Grand Slam) public.

I am sure everyone who comes to this site regularly has been aware of her for some time, but if you picked a random passerby on the street they likely know both Venus and Serena Williams fairly well but have no idea who Madison Keys is. I think she is on the cusp of that breakthrough to being a household name.

 

[isabelle]

Martina / Timea lost

 

[10isfan]

Petra playing out of her mind in set two. Let's see if she can sustain focus through set three. Never know with her until match point is over.

The worst kind of match. A player with no weapons winning every point because of unforced errors from the opponent. Yuk.

 

[Hoergren]

Order of play Friday 12. August

Centre court
Petra Kvitova (CZE) [11] vs Monica Puig (PUR) 46 61 36 clap
ATP
Madison Keys (USA) [7] vs Angelique Kerber (GER) [2] 36 57
ATP doubles final

Court 1
2 x ATP
ATP doubles bronze fight
Venus Williams (USA)/Rajeev Ram (USA) vs Roberta Vinci (ITA)/Fabio Fognini (ITA)) 63 75
Teliana Pereira (BRA)/Marcelo Melo (BRA) vs Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA)/Jack Sock (USA) 46 46

Court 2
Lucie Safarova (CZE)/Barbora Strycova (CZE) vs Ekaterina Makarova (RUS)/[7] Elena Vesnina (RUS) [7] 67 46
ATP
Heather Watson (GBR)/Andy Murray (GBR) vs Sania Mirza (IND) [4]/Rohan Bopanna (IND) [4] 46 46
Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) [5]/Martina Hingis (SUI) [5] vs Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) [6]/Lucie Hradecka (CZE) [6] 57 76 76

Court TBA
Lucie Hradecka (CZE)/Radek Stepanek (CZE) vs Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU)/Horia Tecau (ROU) 64 75

 

[tossip]

who would have thought that Puig would be in the final of the Olympics,she is playing confident tennis win or lose she will medal...I think Kerber will beat Keys and win the gold..bronze will be between Kvitty and Keys.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Martina / Timea lost

What are you talking about? Their match is not yet over. uzzled

 

[tossip]

those girls that beat Veenus and Serena in doubles are gone...goes to show how difficult it is to medal let alone winning gold.

 

[AnonymousFan]

Puig into the final. Did not see that one coming.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

It drives me crazy that players let Kerber off the hook with her serve.

 

[tossip]

I want Kerber to win gold Puig silver and Kvitty bronze..in that order

 

[the AntiPusher]

I want Kerber to win gold Puig silver and Kvitty bronze..in that order

I am pulling for the Puerto Rican , she has played the best

 

[the AntiPusher]

Felt bad for Madison.she really gave it her everything..

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Martina got broken in the first set. It is 4-3 for the Czechs now.

 

[tossip]

I want Kerber to win gold Puig silver and Kvitty bronze..in that order

I am pulling for the Puerto Rican , she has played the best

she has been playing great tennis since that event in Brazil....just think Kerber s consistency will trouble Monica.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

The Czechs choked while serving for the set. It is 5-5 now.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Martina gets broken again. Czechs will serve for the set again.

Timea's volleys are not good.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

This time the Czechs get the job done. They won the first set.

I am hoping Martina can come back and win.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Czech's are serving for the match. A powerful volley by Martina hits Andrea on the face. She falls down with pain. Doc and trainer looking at her.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

OK. It is MTO. She is applying ice to affected part and taking pain killers. But, will be ready to play though.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Czechs are broken while serving for the match. Same thing happened to them in 1st set.