Rio Olympics Official Thread - Men's Tennis

[Carol]

Yep, less than 5 hours sleep the night before and that's after beating Djoker AND getting trapped in a lift, followed by another gruelling singles day today. Probably a blessing in disguise for JMDP if he's going to make a run in the Singles.

He played three sets against Sousa and later in doubles in the third set he was "deflated" but he looks good and strong like a big guy he is, on Wednesday he will be ok

 

[teddytennisfan]

He played three sets against Sousa and later in doubles in the third set he was "deflated" but he looks good and strong like a big guy he is, on Wednesday he will be ok

he still looked good in that doubles - but let's remember their team is against a certain SUPERB doubles player named RAFA...who also has a fine regular partner ...HEHE.

but there was a running forehand at the hitting which delpo jumed up like basketball player for a winner. hehe.

so he's looking pretty good. same as rafa.

 

[Carol]

great to see RAFA be back with something like his ''old self" !!

Maybe because he has already one GM I'd rather if he would keep all his strength and "old self" for the USO but I see him very motivated and if he couldn't win the singles I would be very happy if he would win at least the doubles but we'll see....B-)

 

[britbox]

Men's Singles on Monday in Rio: Del Potro marches on



Juan Martin Del Potro continued his march in the Singles competition at the Rio Olympics with a hard earned win over “I’m getting better. I’m in good shape, but I don’t know if I’m prepared to play six or more matches,” said Del Potro said the match. “This week I’m just going slowly, trying to get […]

 

[teddytennisfan]

Maybe because he has already one GM I'd rather if he would keep all his strength and "old self" for the USO but I see him very motivated and if he couldn't win the singles I would be very happy if he would win at least the doubles but we'll see....B-)

i think you are right -- rafa CAN rest on his laurels really ..

but u know him -- he NEVER rests SO LONG as he's got that energy to compete..i mean - ya - his body (true for all of them anyway - we even see NOLE was a bit ''burned out" really - after all that huge effort to take the FO finally) - but rafa's just - well

as SAMPRAS described him - admiringly of course as between 'jocks' --
'HE;S AN ANIMAL!! what can i say? the guy's just unbelievable".

i mean -- when we think about it -- the REASON we love watching him is the SAME reason HE goes for it so long as he can -- win or lose -

HE NEVER GIVES UP FIGHTING..he's on the floor -- he'll keep kicking! lol.
AS rafa himself said - to all the well-known criticism of his 'style"

"this is who i am, no? fight to the end, no?"

no half-punches from him so long as he can throw punches.

 

[britbox]

Taro Daniel is having a good Olympics. The young Japanese has taken out notable scalps - Jack Sock and Kyle Edmund.

 

[teddytennisfan]

Taro Daniel is having a good Olympics. The young Japanese has taken out notable scalps - Jack Sock and Kyle Edmund.

true -- never heard of him -- but amazing amazing results for him! let's hope this is a start to a really nice career in the ATP for him.

i was amazed also by the more veteran AUSSIE - MELLMAN against KEI - he really got nishikori by the throat there -- right to the end. lol!

reminds me almost of LLEYTON HEWITT in the way Lleyton could be so feisty!! MISS that guy , frankly.

had one of the best touches , imo. with those phenomenal lobs of his...unforgettable.

 

[Tennis Fan]

oh it was in the news for a little many years ago -- nalby was actually on tour , i think in some usa hardcourt season - and had to go home because an aunt of his that he was very close to, i guess his favorite that pampered him, was kidnapped for ransom..i think it was resolved , i don't recall.

(oh my goodness -- in less 24 hours DELPO comes back to win in 3 , amazing! GO GO GO AND WELCOME BACK JUAN MARTIN! )

and that remark by mcenroe -- i remember more clearly now even..he actually said that during THAT FINALS IN USO that andy roddick won over david in 2003..

imagine that -- the big mouth johnny mac who never misses a chance to insert something about ''in my time my idol rod laver" (hehe) - left the impression ALL he wanted to talk about WAS DAVID! throughout that match...i kid you not...if ever there the archive, people will see what i mean...

i mean -- here was john's OWN fellow american ''realizing" the hype that roddick was going to be the ''next pete sampras" or whatever (before roger REMEMBERED he's supposed to get SERIOUS and be a great champ by2004, and we know the rest, lol)

and john mcenroe talked about NALBANDIAN...the backhand, the forehand, the angles, the technic, the placement, the anticipation, the smooth movement...

ya -- i recall THAT was when john mcenroe made that admission and that HE thought little of david when he was just coming up with roger, roddick in the few years earlier..and even after roddick won because david's wrist couldn't put any power at all - especially with his amazing backhand -- i remember john's VOICE getting so ''down" (like he really wanted david to WIN) !!

LOL.

John is really weird to me. He's always the contrarian. He'll put something out there, get the others to follow him, then turn around and take the opposite stance. LOL, they fall for it every time. I don't think John likes anyone TBH, except Laver.

 

[Tennis Fan]

FEEL THE SAME WAY , CAROL.

let's hope that RAFA'S wrist is also coming along just fine -- and that maybe these doubles take the place of ''practice" now -

at this point it's probably that for most of them . real match'practice' and in a way that's good for him too because bodily he LIKES TO keep in rhythm.

i mean -- we all know already how FULL of energy rafa really is. even in his private tapes of his private life -- have you seen any? -- i have --

how he practices, how he is at home? in their kitchen with his family?

HE IS very ''wired up" - i noticed...! lol. it's like he HAS to do something physical in order to take off all that excess electricity in his body. !! lol.

I read his book and it is just as you said. His mother said that he's a perennial bundle of energy and Rafa himself has said that he has a hard time sleeping because he likes to wake up and get about doing something. You'd think with all of that energy expended he'd be tired, but apparently not.

 

[Tennis Fan]

Emotional moments, this is the Olympics spirit!

They were so happy. It was fun to watch.

 

[Tennis Fan]

true -- never heard of him -- but amazing amazing results for him! let's hope this is a start to a really nice career in the ATP for him.

i was amazed also by the more veteran AUSSIE - MELLMAN against KEI - he really got nishikori by the throat there -- right to the end. lol!

reminds me almost of LLEYTON HEWITT in the way Lleyton could be so feisty!! MISS that guy , frankly.

had one of the best touches , imo. with those phenomenal lobs of his...unforgettable.

I liked Lleyton too. So feisty!

 

[Tennis Fan]

Maybe because he has already one GM I'd rather if he would keep all his strength and "old self" for the USO but I see him very motivated and if he couldn't win the singles I would be very happy if he would win at least the doubles but we'll see....B-)

Me too, Carol, but we know Rafa.

 

[britbox]

Tuesday Schedule:

 

[brokenshoelace]

One thing that goes against the "Tennis shouldn't be in the Olympics" argument (which don't get me wrong, is worth debating) is seeing how much it means to these players. I mean, Novak Djokovic left the court in tears due to a first round loss. A FIRST ROUND LOSS! He wouldn't cry if he lost in the first round of a slam.

Seeing Nadal and Lopez so happy is another indication. For many of these guys, this means a lot, so who are we to say otherwise really?

 

[isabelle]

One thing that goes against the "Tennis shouldn't be in the Olympics" argument (which don't get me wrong, is worth debating) is seeing how much it means to these players. I mean, Novak Djokovic left the court in tears due to a first round loss. A FIRST ROUND LOSS! He wouldn't cry if he lost in the first round of a slam.

Seeing Nadal and Lopez so happy is another indication. For many of these guys, this means a lot, so who are we to say otherwise really?

agree with, you OG are a great and important competition for all athletes

 

[teddytennisfan]

John is really weird to me. He's always the contrarian. He'll put something out there, get the others to follow him, then turn around and take the opposite stance. LOL, they fall for it every time. I don't think John likes anyone TBH, except Laver.

haha -- johnny mac is always going to be controversial . lol.

one of his famous sayings:
at the top of his career then - he got beaten by BRAD GILBERT -- who we all know made a name for himself as a top coach - especially from attaching himself to ANDRE AGASSI in the 1990's. AND OTHERS later, like ANDY MURRAY, ANDY RODDICK, right? (i noticed , usually just when the players were -- imo -- READY to win a major - andsomehow brfad gets that credit) -

anyway -- brad was never that good or talented a player anyway -- the one that used to be known as ''DINKY SHOTS" -- ''garbage shots" -

u know -- PUSHER ..or someone that just basically gets all the momentum from the OTHER person? lol.

and after getting beaten - Mc was so furious he said:

"i HAVE MORE talent in my little finger than HE has in ALL his body"!! annoying and insulting of course -- but -- let's face it - TRUE.

hehe.

 

[teddytennisfan]

One thing that goes against the "Tennis shouldn't be in the Olympics" argument (which don't get me wrong, is worth debating) is seeing how much it means to these players. I mean, Novak Djokovic left the court in tears due to a first round loss. A FIRST ROUND LOSS! He wouldn't cry if he lost in the first round of a slam.

Seeing Nadal and Lopez so happy is another indication. For many of these guys, this means a lot, so who are we to say otherwise really?

THANK YOU!

yes -- it ''disrupts" the ''tennis schedule" -- but come on -- this IS the greatest athletic meeting in the world - in history! my god.

for a sport to BE recognized by the olympics - whatever the complications are? --

THAT is indeed as climactic as anything a sport has in its ''regular prime time". imo.

or we can put it another way -- the olympics -- had it continued unbroken --

would have had a 'regular season" comprising of quadrennial seasons..

or in the case of the original olympics -- actually annual.
and true -- look at how NOLE was crying with such sadness and disappointment -- NEVER saw that from him EVEN in losing tough fought FINALS anywhere..never.

THIS one he really took to heart as deep as anything. and same with del potro for just ONE match? these tennis players KNOW what their schedule is about ..so they know the risks in their sport for losing ONE match and ''you're out" no do-overs unlike - say in track and field where some have

2 ''heats" ...

NO -- the olympics is worth their dedication and dreams just like with other players.

 

[teddytennisfan]

THANKS!! you make it SOOO much easier to check here compared even to the RIO or tv websites!

 

[teddytennisfan]

I liked Lleyton too. So feisty!

so many controversial things he said - we all know -- but heck -- people are people.
but in perspective -- he had a really good career and he worked very hard in it , and stands as an example of how competing can be in tennis at its most committed.

but one thing i liked about lleyton -- he really carved out a career and competed with such a dedication -- AND professionalism - real respect for the game itself but , outside the court against rivals - NEVER engaged in 'tit-for-tat'' verbal battles like a few would.

he was all about ''shop talk" among peers. u know? a real 'jock''. his style was never my preferred one -- i mean -- i DO prefer the ''older" style of attack , all court tennis like pete did -- so that really says something about the post-1990's baselinhe type...for me. anwyay...including all my favorites nowadays..

BUT you take it from there -- take it as it is..and among these -- lleyton MADE me admire that style.

 

[brokenshoelace]

What's up with Nadal's service position on the ad court? He's standing so wide to where the serve can almost exclusively be sliced. Really odd.