RIO OLYMPICS 2016

[GameSetAndMath]

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

Rafa already has a gold in singles. He stands a reasonable chance of winning a medal in both men's doubles and mixed doubles event. In mixed doubles, he may even get a Gold medal. So, in some sense it is not totally stupid to go to Rio and cross off carrying the flag from his bucket list as well.

Having said that, I think a champion like Rafa should not go to Rio unless he is fit enough to play in Men's singles event. Otherwise, he might as well give more time for the wrist to heal and try to win the USO, especially if the rumors of tennis elbow for Novak are true.

 

[Carol]

At least Rafa today was practicing with Muzz, maybe he is feeling better?
I wish he wouldn't go to Rio but....

http://www.tennis-x.com/xblog/2016-07-27/23642.php

 

[Rational National]

With Woger out I feel the only honourable thing for eveyone to do is cite Zika and not turn up. Incidentally anyone got any views on Russian participation at the games - obvioulsy Maria has already fallen foul but is there any suggestion be it specific or implied that Russian tennis players are caught by the wider allegation of mass doping? I appreciate we need to be careful with gossip over such a serious subject but I havent seen any dots connecting the allegations from say Track through to Tennis...

 

[Front242]

Besides Sharapova which Russians currently on tour exactly have won any slams? There are dopers on tour 100% (a lot of them) but I doubt they're all Russian.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Besides Sharapova which Russians currently on tour exactly have won any slams? There are dopers on tour 100% (a lot of them) but I doubt they're all Russian.

Sveta has won 2 slams.

 

[Front242]

Besides Sharapova which Russians currently on tour exactly have won any slams? There are dopers on tour 100% (a lot of them) but I doubt they're all Russian.

Sveta has won 2 slams.

Yeah, just thought of her after I typed it but she's been poor for years so it can't exactly be very effective doping.

 

[isabelle]

Bagman pulled out

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Assuming Rafa decides not to play in singles, five of the top ten will not be playing in singles (Roger, Rafa, Milos, Berdych and Thiem). :cover This may be the smallest pool participating in Olympics from top 10, since the revival of tennis in Olympics.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Zverev quits as well saying he is not fit enough to play in it at this time.

 

[herios]

Bryan brothers pulled out of the Olympics. They have lost in Toronto to the Romanian duo Tecau and Mergea.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Leander Paes will be going to Rio. This is his SEVENTH appearance in Olympic Games. :clap
This just extends his own record for appearances.

Interestingly, he does not have any medal in doubles, but has a bronze medal from Atlanta Olympics in singles.

 

[Carol]

Rafa says that he will not be at the best level in any of the categories, he has not competed for two months and has not trained too much. He will train a few days over there and then he will decide what is best, to be more positive for him and the team.
I think that Muzz will have a good opportunity to win his second Golden Medal or Novak his first one

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Brian Baker and Rajeev Ram will replace the BB team in Men's doubles.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Draw on Thursday, the 4th Aug. Play starts on Saturday, the 6th Aug.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Here are some interesting Men's doubles teams.

1. Novak and Nenand Zimonjic.
2. The Murray Brothers.
3. Rafa and Marc Lopez.
4. Monfils and Tsonga.
5. Rosol and Stepanek.
6. Leander Paes and Boppanna.
7. Soares and Melo (Home Team)
8. Herbert and Mahut (#1 seed)
9. Nestor and Popsicle.
10. Cabal and Farah (Colombians)
11. Mergea and Tecau (Romanians)

Of these only teams 8 and 10 are regular pairs (meaning not formed just for the purposes of Olympics) who normally play together in the doubles circuit.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Rafa says that he will not be at the best level in any of the categories, he has not competed for two months and has not trained too much. He will train a few days over there and then he will decide what is best, to be more positive for him and the team.
I think that Muzz will have a good opportunity to win his second Golden Medal or Novak his first one

Rafa should just carry the flag and exit Rio immediately

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Rafa says that he will not be at the best level in any of the categories, he has not competed for two months and has not trained too much. He will train a few days over there and then he will decide what is best, to be more positive for him and the team.
I think that Muzz will have a good opportunity to win his second Golden Medal or Novak his first one

Rafa should just carry the flag and exit Rio immediately

Rafa's team is currently impressed with his level and they actually expect Rafa to play in singles too (even though it is not certain).

 

[herios]

Rafa says that he will not be at the best level in any of the categories, he has not competed for two months and has not trained too much. He will train a few days over there and then he will decide what is best, to be more positive for him and the team.
I think that Muzz will have a good opportunity to win his second Golden Medal or Novak his first one

Rafa should just carry the flag and exit Rio immediately

That would be completely the opposite of the Olympic spirit. If he played a match and then pull out, that would be acceptable. The participation is important, not the victory.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Rafa says that he will not be at the best level in any of the categories, he has not competed for two months and has not trained too much. He will train a few days over there and then he will decide what is best, to be more positive for him and the team.
I think that Muzz will have a good opportunity to win his second Golden Medal or Novak his first one

Rafa should just carry the flag and exit Rio immediately

That would be completely the opposite of the Olympic spirit. If he played a match and then pull out, that would be acceptable. The participation is important, not the victory.

It is the Nadalites who recommend that. Nadal himself would not do it. Nadal is definitely playing both Men's doubles and Mixed doubes the best he can. It also appears at this time that he will play singles as well.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Rafa says that he will not be at the best level in any of the categories, he has not competed for two months and has not trained too much. He will train a few days over there and then he will decide what is best, to be more positive for him and the team.
I think that Muzz will have a good opportunity to win his second Golden Medal or Novak his first one

Rafa should just carry the flag and exit Rio immediately

Rafa's team is currently impressed with his level and they actually expect Rafa to play in singles too (even though it is not certain).

Rafa's team is currently impressed with his level

the same team that was impressed with his levels of play that cosigned him to play in Madrid and Rome with a gimpy wrist:nono