RIO OLYMPICS 2016

[rafanoy1992]

With the best of three format, anything can happen especially in the Olympics. To the eyes of the fans, Olympics might not matter to the players, but to the players they do matter. So, I wouldn't be surprised if the Big 4 players struggle in the earlier stages just because of the adrenaline and pride of their opponents and the best of three format.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Fearless prediction: Rafa wins Olympic gold for the second time.

I don't think it will actually happen as Rafa will likely be too rusty, but for some reason I kind of want to see this happen.

In reality it will probably be Novak, but Kei would be a darkhorse candidate.

We don't even know whether Kei still has ribs. Further with his body, he is probably the player most prone to getting Zika virus.

I too think winner may be quite unpredictable, until we reach the QF stage at least. Afrer that, it should probably go as per the pecking order among the survivors.

 

[isabelle]

Recall that in 2012 Olympics, Roger Federer won against JMDP with a scoreline of 3-6, 7-6, 19-17 and then he was so tired and he lost to Andy Murray in the finals meekly.

Guess what, they have changed the rules this time and they now say the tie-break will operate in every set. However, they have retained the idea of using a 5-set match for the finals alone.

If only these rules were in place in 2012, Roger might have already got his OG in singles.

are you sure tireness is the only reason of Mr Vavrinec's loss ??? Murray played much much better than him, even fresh I 'm not sure than the Swiss'ld have won !!! nobody can say, it's only my opinion but all credits go to Murray for his gold medal

Come on, just a month before at the very same place Roger crushed Andy so bad that he cried. No one expected Andy to reverse course in such a short period of time. Fed's tiredness was a serious factor in that match.

Having said that it does not take anything away from Andy's win. It is the responsibility of his opponent to make sure that he was not tired for such an important match.

was it also tireness in 2000, 2004, 2008 ??? did he win gold in those 3 occasions ? if not why ??

 

[Great Hands]

With the best of three format, anything can happen especially in the Olympics. To the eyes of the fans, Olympics might not matter to the players, but to the players they do matter. So, I wouldn't be surprised if the Big 4 players struggle in the earlier stages just because of the adrenaline and pride of their opponents and the best of three format.

The Masters is best of 3 format and Novak still wins nearly all of those, with the others going to Andy, Fed and Rafa. The Masters events have been dominated by the Big 4. 90 out of the last 104 Masters events have been won by the Big 4. That is just insane. The Big 4 have won the last 17 Masters events. The Big 4 have also won the last two Olympics. i.e. The evidence does not suggest that the best of 3 format is a problem for the Big 4. Quite the opposite in fact. So we find that rather than the best of 3 format leading to 'anything can happen', the best of 3 format actually leads to 'Roger, Rafa, Novak or Andy wins'. And with Roger and Rafa struggling physically, the best of 3 format might actually help them.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Fearless prediction: Rafa wins Olympic gold for the second time.

I don't think it will actually happen as Rafa will likely be too rusty, but for some reason I kind of want to see this happen.

In reality it will probably be Novak, but Kei would be a darkhorse candidate.

It's definitely a fearless prediction .. I know this Rafa fan doesn't think he will make it to the medal rounds

 

[GameSetAndMath]

are you sure tireness is the only reason of Mr Vavrinec's loss ??? Murray played much much better than him, even fresh I 'm not sure than the Swiss'ld have won !!! nobody can say, it's only my opinion but all credits go to Murray for his gold medal

Come on, just a month before at the very same place Roger crushed Andy so bad that he cried. No one expected Andy to reverse course in such a short period of time. Fed's tiredness was a serious factor in that match.

Having said that it does not take anything away from Andy's win. It is the responsibility of his opponent to make sure that he was not tired for such an important match.

was it also tireness in 2000, 2004, 2008 ??? did he win gold in those 3 occasions ? if not why ??

I was talking about 2012. What happened at other times is irrelevant to the discussion.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Fact is, a month earlier, Roger beat him in four close sets (as opposed to "crushed him so badly"), and up until Andy blinked sometime late in the second set, imagine the pressure he was under, he looked best placed to win it.

Well, it was not crushing like they way Fed almost double bagelled Andy in 2014 London O2 WTF.
However, in grass it is well known that sets are typically won by one break somewhere as it is typically easy to hold serve. So, one does not expect a 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 type of scoreline in grass court matches.
Fed won the last three sets with one break. Andy won the first set, but even in that set Andy got broken.
Sure, the first two sets were competitive. Afterwards, I don't think there was much doubt as to who is going to win.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

ITF has announced replacement for quitters.

Tomas Berdych (CZE), Milos Raonic (CAN), Richard Gasquet (FRA) and Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) have withdrawn from the men’s singles and been replaced by Jordan Thompson (AUS), Teymuraz Gabashvili (RUS), Benoit Paire (FRA) and Mirza Basic (BIH).
Read more at http://www.itftennis.com/news/232270.aspx#3RlaCRLjIv3ARRAS.99

 

[Carol]

Rafa won't play the singles in Rio, only doubles (who knows if he will) because he has still pain in his wrist,he had to cancel the last practice with Muzz who is in Mallorca for awhile

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Would find it surprising if he goes all the way there just to play in doubles. But, he might do it considering he values Olympics a lot.

 

[Fiero425]

What will they do for doubles since Roger's out? Not sure he was playing with Martina Hingis anyway! ;-/

 

[GameSetAndMath]

What will they do for doubles since Roger's out? Not sure he was playing with Martina Hingis anyway! ;-/

Swiss won't have a men's doubles team. Stan and Martina will play mixed doubles.

But, I was talking about Rafa who may not play singles at Rio, but play doubles .
Anyway, he has not yet officially announced anything. We just have to wait and see.

 

[herios]

Would find it surprising if he goes all the way there just to play in doubles. But, he might do it considering he values Olympics a lot.

Rafa wants to carry the flag. That is what is important to him.

 

[isabelle]

Nadal is doubtful according to l'Equipe, his wrist still hurts and he canceled a practice with Andy, it doesn't smell good

 

[Front242]

Nadal is doubtful according to l'Equipe, his wrist still hurts and he canceled a practice with Andy, it doesn't smell good

What doesn't smell good? The hand he does wedgies with ? :s Lousy for the Olympics to have both Rafa and Roger out though if he only plays doubles.

 

[Kieran]

Rafa shouldn't even be carrying a tiny flag with a wrist injury, let alone contemplating playing doubles. WTF? If you're not well enough to play singles, why play doubles? These boys are egomaniacs, or children. He should be told to wake up and smell the coffee. I know he badly wants to play, but commonsense says that he can't play, because his wrist isn't anywhere near healed, and so therefore he shouldn't try... :cover

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Nadal is doubtful according to l'Equipe, his wrist still hurts and he canceled a practice with Andy, it doesn't smell good

He cancelled practice just for a day. He was seen practicing with Andy now in Mallorca. It looks like he will definitely make the trip to Rio even though he is not sure he will play in singles. He is scheduled to play Men's doubles with Marc Lopez and Mixed Doubles with Garbine Muguraza.

 

[Kieran]

Nadal is doubtful according to l'Equipe, his wrist still hurts and he canceled a practice with Andy, it doesn't smell good

He cancelled practice just for a day. He was seen practicing with Andy now in Mallorca. It looks like he will definitely make the trip to Rio even though he is not sure he will play in singles. He is scheduled to play Men's doubles with Marc Lopez and Mixed Doubles with Garbine Muguraza.

Well, why didn't you mention mixed doubles with Garbine earlier? That's worth his trip to Rio on its own... :snicker

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Nadal is doubtful according to l'Equipe, his wrist still hurts and he canceled a practice with Andy, it doesn't smell good

He cancelled practice just for a day. He was seen practicing with Andy now in Mallorca. It looks like he will definitely make the trip to Rio even though he is not sure he will play in singles. He is scheduled to play Men's doubles with Marc Lopez and Mixed Doubles with Garbine Muguraza.

Well, why didn't you mention mixed doubles with Garbine earlier? That's worth his trip to Rio on its own... :snicker

It may be worth a trip on its own :heart:. But I believe, he is not allowed to play in mixed doubles unless he plays in at least one of Men's singles or Men's doubles events.

 

[Kieran]

He cancelled practice just for a day. He was seen practicing with Andy now in Mallorca. It looks like he will definitely make the trip to Rio even though he is not sure he will play in singles. He is scheduled to play Men's doubles with Marc Lopez and Mixed Doubles with Garbine Muguraza.

Well, why didn't you mention mixed doubles with Garbine earlier? That's worth his trip to Rio on its own... :snicker

It may be worth a trip on its own :heart:. But I believe, he is not allowed to play in mixed doubles unless he plays in at least one of Men's singles or Men's doubles events.

It's becoming a bit like Romeo and Juliet, with nasty people trying to keep them apart. But seriously, isn't that an unfair rule, given that a lot of players are only good for mixed doubles, and so might not be able to compete in their best event?