Rio Olympics Official Thread - Men's Tennis

[Carol]

If they would go to the third set then Novak will win because he never get tired but I think Delpo is already

 

[Carol]

What a point Delpo!

 

[teddytennisfan]

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[/QUOTE


definitely HUGE hole for NOLE NOW.

it doesn't look DELPO WILL collapse from 5-1.

 

[teddytennisfan]

If they would go to the third set then Novak will win because he never get tired but I think Delpo is already

MATCH POINT...

I actually think delpo will. close it right here - on his first point.
NOLE has other plans/ hehe!

amazing@@@


CONGRATS DELPO -- YOU JUST MIGHT BE BACK!!

AND GREAT NOLE -- not just your day today --

BUT AGAIN -- EVER THE GRACIOUS CHAMPION!!!! NOLE!

 

[Carol]

Congrats Delpo!!!

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

del potrooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

 

[teddytennisfan]

MABYE -- at age 30 NOLE will NEVER have this olumpic gold -- but

HURTFUL as that is for NOLE -- who really cares about winning one for his 'little serbia"

-- NOLE -- I - for one -- always hold you in my own heart as a great SOUL among athletes of all time.

you are GOLD no matter what NOLE.

 

[teddytennisfan]

Congrats Delpo!!!

don't you just l;ove it -- DELPO gets to CHILD-LIKE when he does things like this. !

 

[Carol]

don't you just l;ove it -- DELPO gets to CHILD-LIKE when he does things like this. !

He is very sentimental

 

[teddytennisfan]

He is very sentimental

can we just imagine IF -- or 'when" he meets up with RAFA or ANDY ? OH My god!

 

[brokenshoelace]

This is the first time I've seen Del Potro hit his forehand like that since the 2009 US Open. And honestly, for the first time that I can recall in a long while, I felt that one player's strategy (Djokovic) should have been to, quite literally, never hit to his opponent's forehand. Unless it's a legit open court put-away, just stay away from that side.

It's an impossible strategy to stick to, and really counter-intuitive (most rallies are cross court exchanges, so it's really difficult to avoid if a forehand to forehand exchange is initiated), so it's not like I fault Novak or anything, although he did seem to go to that side one too many times. Furthermore, Del Potro possesses the best running forehand on tour by a country mile, so even when you feel you have him on the ropes, it's still super risky to go to that side and he made Novak pay over and over.

What's holding Del Potro back (other than always being injured of course), is that his movement has regressed a bit -- no doubt due to the repeated injuries and never finding a constant rhythm. To his backhand side, he is noticeably slow. I felt Novak actually didn't capitalize on this enough. The other glaring issue is that the continuous wrist injuries have hampered his backhand, which used to be quite bigger back in his 2009 run. He's developed a really serviceable slice to his credit, but it's almost contrasting to the way he's supposed to be playing (hit big and bludgeon the ball). This is more damaging combined with his declining movement, as he can't run around his backhand as much as he'd like. If he could, he can be borderline unplayable on days like these, against anybody, because you are just never safe. Must be such an intimidating feeling to play against.

I wish he'd step up his returning though. For someone who hits so big, he doesn't punish serves as much as he should. If he and Nadal make the semis (long way to go), I expect Del Potro to win on this surface.

 

[teddytennisfan]

This is the first time I've seen Del Potro hit his forehand like that since the 2009 US Open. And honestly, for the first time that I can recall in a long while, I felt that one player's strategy (Djokovic) should have been to, quite literally, never hit to his opponent's forehand. Unless it's a legit open court put-away, just stay away from that side.

It's an impossible strategy to stick to, and really counter-intuitive (most rallies are cross court exchanges, so it's really difficult to avoid if a forehand to forehand exchange is initiated), so it's not like I fault Novak or anything, although he did seem to go to that side one too many times. Furthermore, Del Potro possesses the best running forehand on tour by a country mile, so even when you feel you have him on the ropes, it's still super risky to go to that side and he made Novak pay over and over.

What's holding Del Potro back (other than always being injured of course), is that his movement has regressed a bit -- no doubt due to the repeated injuries and never finding a constant rhythm. To his backhand side, he is noticeably slow. I felt Novak actually didn't capitalize on this enough. The other glaring issue is that the continuous wrist injuries have hampered his backhand, which used to be quite bigger back in his 2009 run. He's developed a really serviceable slice to his credit, but it's almost contrasting to the way he's supposed to be playing (hit big and bludgeon the ball). This is more damaging combined with his declining movement, as he can't run around his backhand as much as he'd like. If he could, he can be borderline unplayable on days like these, against anybody, because you are just never safe. Must be such an intimidating feeling to play against.

I wish he'd step up his returning though. For someone who hits so big, he doesn't punish serves as much as he should. If he and Nadal make the semis (long way to go), I expect Del Potro to win on this surface.

thansk for the great review.!

carol was missing his ''aces" - and true enough. i thought that maybe delpo was feeling quite confident with his forehand and so long as nole wasn't finding any real way to dismantle delpo's backhand (which delpo somehow played with good consistency until finding his forehand again ) --

it seemed to me that delpo just wanted to put in good controlling serves . ONE ace?

but so long as he won -- that was the most important for him. and to know that he has the ''gas in the tank" .

i think delpo being consistent really un-nerved NOLE. and because nole of course is such a great mover AND in moving the ball across the court - but delpo just had enough movement and reach to cover the cross court exchange long enough to get what he wanted.

 

[Tennis Fan]

you are very likely correct about that, Tennis Fan.
he is amazingly talented - everyone knows that -- but it seems all the hype , expectations - for so long now, really -- and then his rise really into what/ did he enter top ten, 15 at some point -- and some ''attractive' wins or challenges against the big 4 - ?

and then stumbles - and it gets all muddle up...it's like even in his mind maybe:

"where did all that LOGICAL RISE" GO? and then seeing new faces begin to pass him by -- that can play tricks on the mind too.

imo -- while he made great, great strides in those 2 or 3 years ago as a result of the focus on fitness and endurance -- with that australian guy? that was in itself NOT everything in tennis. and there was nothing more the guy could teach -- it was all about 'fitness' -

but after that -- what? where to BRING his talent to? and THAT'S where the 'hole" shows itself.

where he is now - he needs someone who can really guide him in strategies, tactics in tennis - that kind of thing -- like a REAL big time champion or TENNIS, not fitness , coach does. which the aussie guy is really more a ''tennis playing" FITNESS coach .

and dimitrov's RISE period was based on that -- fitness -- due to the coach's idea that the tennis will take care of itself or 'we'll address that later" -- but that wasn't proper, imo.

they took care of the ATHLETE -- but the TENNIS talent was left from being guided on how to make the transition from being a very talented , FIT, player TO a bigtime champ.

which is what makes NOLE, NADAL, ROGER, ANDY - and wawrinka (he's so fit too, it took him a long time -- but he became a big time champ) - different - if NOT in ''natural talent" - then in knowing how to put totgether their talent and fitness and honing their skills even more.

It's so sad seeing someone not fulfill their potential when the tools are there. He's still young, so there's time, but he needs to get down to brass tacks, focus on his own game, and leave the hype machine alone. They destroy so many players with that bull. A couple of years ago they were hyping Pospisil, Kokkinakkis, and several others, not realizing that these guys are young and learning not only how to manage their game, but the sudden fame and expectations. Those guys that they hyped so heavily aren't doing much of anything now, but you have to keep your head out of the clouds and your feet firmly on the ground. Not doing this brings with it heavy consequences.

 

[Tennis Fan]

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

Yay!

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

del otro said that part of his rehab was playing in some tourneys but not loads of them this year, which is why he sometimes he steps off the tour.

seems like a good move, he was hitting through way more 2hbh than earlier in year.

and the classic nuclear war forehand was v much in view.

Djokovic looks burnt out, same as at Wimbledon..andtoronto even tho he won it. that was a depleted field but really he didn't look good until maybe that final v nish.

ufe;s all over the shop today..as at wimby, but del potro was epic. what a joy. coming back from all that injury woe, gives me hope I can do the same. (tho I prob won't ever beat Djokovic in straights).

 

[Tennis Fan]

the beef i have with the tv coverage is -- BRAVO -- while it thankfully covers tennis. it doesn't show the other courts...it's nice to see favorites - like my serena - on centre court -- but there are alreaedy other matches happening or when they do -- the camera should also visit them...if RAFA is already playhing i wanna see him too.

I think they're doing pretty good. I may just be happy that Bravo or someone else is televising it. I wasn't expecting this.

 

[Carol]

It's incredible how much damage can do the injuries. Great players which could have got more achievements but the injuries didn't allow them to do it. Delpo could have won more than one GS but unfortunately his wrists have gave him very bad times. Rafa could have more GS numbers but we know what has happened but never is late
We'll see what happens now in RIO and how far they can go

 

[teddytennisfan]

It's incredible how much damage can do the injuries. Great players which could have got more achievements but the injuries didn't allow them to do it. Delpo could have won more than one GS but unfortunately his wrists have gave him very bad times. Rafa could have more GS numbers but we know what has happened but never is late
We'll see what happens now in RIO and how far they can go

i know --- but it' is reality ..life is what it is , isn't it?

we can only wish for them that somehow it gets better and they can still salvage something after so many chances lost. but that's life. so the best way , i think is celebrate every little achievement.

 

[teddytennisfan]

It's incredible how much damage can do the injuries. Great players which could have got more achievements but the injuries didn't allow them to do it. Delpo could have won more than one GS but unfortunately his wrists have gave him very bad times. Rafa could have more GS numbers but we know what has happened but never is late
We'll see what happens now in RIO and how far they can go

ONE really CUTE thing with DELPO long ago -- in the Beijing olympics -- when he got a medal -- and he was asked what he felt like - being two weeks away

his answer?


"I miss MY MOTHER!! " hehe....6'6'' Power Giant -- was homesick -- he really said that -- that ''because my mother - her cooking and wakes me up " -- hehe...that was soooooooooooooo cute!!

he may be the TANK in Tennis and better not provoke him , guys...

but he;s stil MOMMY'S BABY!! hehe...

 

[teddytennisfan]

RUSSIAN SAFIN --

IN HIS FIRST OLYMPIC


WON BRONZE over UK rival.

in FENCING!!! yes == he's IN FENCING NOW!!