Rio Olympics Official Thread - Men's Tennis

[Carol]

Rafa/ Lopez have won their first double match 6-4 6-4

 

[EdbergsGhost]

djoko/delpo is more like a semifinal (or final) than the first round. One all in the tiebreak.

 

[teddytennisfan]

don't know if people caught the other matches.

andy made easy work of it -- methodical and not much fuss.

NADAL - just performance-wise -- was PHENOMENAL -- IT'S as if he never left and AL;MOST as completely good as when he won his USO hard court majors ..including a very nice first serve (when it landed) .

though ...he did note he still felt ''pain'' or of course the strain...so we'll have to see if that holds up ...

but technically -- tactically -- and above all , energy and concentration and movement-=wise -- he really was good. near his best , not there yet, but near.

 

[teddytennisfan]

Rafa/ Lopez have won their first double match 6-4 6-4

although it is only FIRST DAY and he plays 3 times more than most others -- 3 events for him, after all --

and that wrist is always going to be a question --

it is amazing how ''NADAL SHOWED UP" today. being of course one of the ''fans since the kid from mallorca" got my attention -- i thinkk i know enough about his levels to say that i was myself quite shocked at how almost ''vintage" he looked -- although we can't judge yet based on delbonis --

but there were runs and pick=-ups nadal did the had been missing all the past year or more -- that re-appeared today.

GOOD sign - at least on that matter.

 

[teddytennisfan]

djoko/delpo is more like a semifinal (or final) than the first round. One all in the tiebreak.

you're so right -- if only DELPO had accumulated better points and be ranked higher -- THIS important , electric match should not be first round between these two amazing players...tha'ts what's so annoying. but well...that's how it goes.

NOLE is very bothered -- and isn't finding his best form -- in great danger here in second set...NOLE better put it all together right now...deuce -- and if he does that could change the tone of the game...i mean it's a BIG threat that he already lost the tie-break so easily to delpo..and now DELPO AGAIN unleashes that forehand for a break point 2..

deuce and NOLE is wisely attacking delpo's still not top form backhand -- AD NOLE. good for him -- at least they should have one set each and see where it goes! good for tennis! hehe.

whew -- NOLE got that through -- VERY important for NOLE!

 

[Carol]

although it is only FIRST DAY and he plays 3 times more than most others -- 3 events for him, after all --

and that wrist is always going to be a question --

it is amazing how ''NADAL SHOWED UP" today. being of course one of the ''fans since the kid from mallorca" got my attention -- i thinkk i know enough about his levels to say that i was myself quite shocked at how almost ''vintage" he looked -- although we can't judge yet based on delbonis --

but there were runs and pick=-ups nadal did the had been missing all the past year or more -- that re-appeared today.

GOOD sign - at least on that matter.

I don't think he feels pain but he was almost two months with the wrist inmovilizaded, then he started to practice not too long ego so he needs to 'active' that wrist again which takes a litte time but it seems doing well

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

goatpotro v much in evidence.

 

[Carol]

For the first time in this whole year Novak has a strong opponent even that this one is not playing his best. Berdych, Raonic and Nishi together don't make one great player, Muzz sometimes, Wawrinka sometimes too but not enough and Novak has knew to take a good advantage of it
I forgot about Zverev and Querrey which played well too

 

[teddytennisfan]

I don't think he feels pain but he was almost two months with the wrist inmovilizaded, then he started to practice not too long ego so he needs to 'active' that wrist again which takes a litte time but it seems doing well

hope you are correct, Carol. and that of course is more likely -- healed -- but of course just very recently he has started real practice and playing -- so it does take a while for the ''stretch'' to get back to comfort level

let's see what transpires.

meanwhile -- NOLE is still under pressue on his service games -- as delpo manages to use his weakened backhand -- or his single handed slice backhand to stay in the point -- before finding his forehand which nole seems to really try to avoid...

NOLE got that back to deuce! another big test for him...and it's getting late in the match. AD NOLE...great passing shot! amazing Nole! despite delpos nice approach.

ayayayaiiiii -- nole in trouble again...deuce.

AD
NOL.E WITH a great serve..

 

[teddytennisfan]

NOLE back down to deuce...

AD NOLE..
he definitely MUST keep this serve game...

HE GOT IT! GOOD for him !
DELPO will be disappointed in that . haha and he better make sure he keeps his nose ahead with his service game...


my goodness -- that p;ower of delpo -- and this is on A SLOW court too.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

fans are really into it..

 

[teddytennisfan]

For the first time in this whole year Novak has a strong opponent even that this one is not playing his best. Berdych, Raonic and Nishi together don't make one great player, Muzz sometimes, Wawrinka sometimes too but not enough and Novak has knew to take a good advantage of it
I forgot about Zverev and Querrey which played well too

that power of delpo -- it's almost so easy to forget because he's been away from his ''long-ago" form for so long, u know?

can we just imagine what he COULD hAVE BEEN like all these years if his body wasn't so brittle? i mean -- my god, really.

and i'/m talking as someone who's , more than anything, a fan of BIG POWER, BIG TENNIS...all the way from sampras and those guys...and to ME -- really delpo is almost out of this world in that kind of power AND easy athleticism for a guy his size.

i first saw him in that little tournament he firs twon so long ago - in argentina...when he was 18 or -- and then not much news about him yet -- but i caught it on tv somehow..

i KNEW that guy was going to be somethign FRIGHTENING, REALLY.

 

[teddytennisfan]

fans are really into it..

fans are really into it..

fans are really into it..

HAHA...yes they are -- the nice thing about olumpics fans is -- yes -- it's all very parochial -- BUT they are SPORTS fans -- and they'll applaud GOOD competing. u know? even if ''biased" for ''home boy" , home girl -- like DELPO is , after all,

''ours" whether brazilian or argentinian..they mostly just like COMPETING.

and while they probably want DELPO to win -- theya re respectful of novak when he serves -- and APPLAUD his effort like now -- 4 all. then cheer on ''home boy".

u know? i respect that .

 

[teddytennisfan]

NOLE is still quite concerned that he's not making too much dent on delpo so far.

oooo -- that was a BAD call by the umpire -- delpo DID get to that ball for a volley which he won -- but ok...

NOLE botched that one...he had a chance to pile on the pressure for 15-40 ..but not 30,30.

ohmy what power from delpo..
5-4...this is DO OR DIE for NOLE.. he better really get it together and UP his game some more.

you just hate this kind of DRAW -- TOO EARLY for either these guys !! darn!

 

[Carol]

I didn't understand why they gave the point to Novak, Delpo reached that ball well

 

[teddytennisfan]

GOOD for NOLE - he challenged the out call on his first serve..and it was in...and crowd supports him! he deserved it.

 

[teddytennisfan]

I didn't understand why they gave the point to Novak, Delpo reached that ball well

just a bad call by the umpire -- but both players kept it cool. i mean delpo of course ...

 

[Carol]

After to see Delpo how he was playing the previous tournaments I'm impressed how well is playing now, big difference though I don't see him making any aces which I remember he was doing very well before

 

[teddytennisfan]

oh my god -- that DOUBLE BACKHAND PASSING power -- appeared for the first time...that could be crucial unless NOLE does something NOW!

HE DID -- 40-30 FOR 5 ALL. and if he stays alive -- it CAN raise his confidence...

but -- DELPO gets up to deuce!

AD nole.

oh my god -- deuce from that power of delpo..my god.
NOLE really needs this points...

 

[teddytennisfan]

5-5 -- GREAT CLOSE by nole! haha. now delpo better hang on to his serve and keep ahead if he wants this match as the longer it gets -- the better NOLE will feel confident.