The real Tennis thread.

[Atwood]

Gotta think Novak will somehow get this. But Delpo's backhand is the best I've seen it in a long time!! Argentine fans in the house. How many forehand winners ? :surprised:

JMDP just wins it!! Ha! Like that.
ATP just got more interesting in 2016 if Delpo can keep this up.
Novak Djokovic (SRB) [1]
6(4)6(2)
Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 77
Match Time: 02:27
Novak Djokovic / Del Potro
8 Aces 3
2 Double Faults 1
1 Service Winners 2
70/101 (69%) 1st Serve 42/72 (58%)
47/70 (67%) Points Won on 1st Serve 36/42 (86%)
29/31 (94%) 2nd Serve 29/30 (97%)
17/29 (55%) Points Won on 2nd Serve 20/29 (67%)
16/72 (22%) Receiving Points Won 37/101 (37%)
0/0 (0%) Break Points 0/7 (0%)
26 Total Winners 41
7 Forehand Winners 29
7 Backhand Winners 2
20 Forced Errors 30
32 Unforced Errors 24
20/31 (65%) Net Points 14/22 (64%)
80 Total Points Won 93
197 Highest Serve Speed (Km/h) 210
http://rio.tennis-live-scores.com/match/TEM001601

Commiserations to Novak Djokovic. Tough loss.
Gotta love Juan Martin, though. Congrats!

 

[sir fly]

Đoković in tears...
His career won't be complete without Olympic gold.
Seems it's easier to begin an extraordinary career with Olympics gold, than to win it with burden of history and nation's expectations on shoulders

 

[Atwood]

Re:

Đoković in tears...
His career won't be complete without Olympic gold.
Seems it's easier to begin an extraordinary career with Olympics gold, than to win it with burden of history and nation's expectations on shoulders

Indeed, sad for him. And his level tonight was about too much pressure I think. He could try again in 2020 maybe.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Djokovic beating Delpo 120% of the time.

Yeah, listen to me, I know my stuff

 

[SeriousSam]

It's ok, we all make mistakes. I recommend deferring to the odds when it comes to predictions.


I'm ecstatic Djokovic lost.

 

[Red Rick]

Djokovic is still in doubles though.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re:

Đoković in tears...
His career won't be complete without Olympic gold.
Seems it's easier to begin an extraordinary career with Olympics gold, than to win it with burden of history and nation's expectations on shoulders

Couldn't believe it when I woke up and found out Novak lost, another golden chance for Murray to add to his London gold, especially as he's been knocked out of the doubles.

 

[Red Rick]

Meanwhile, doubles are really a fickle thing. Murray/Murray out, in basically the closest 2 set match ever. Very tough loss that could happen though. Margins in doubles are very thin and good team play generally beats individual quality. I only saw a short part of the match and Andy wasn't making the difference from the back court. It's a hard adjustment though because returning in doubles is a lot different to returning in singles.

What was really suprising is that Mahut/Herbert, World #1 in doubles are also out in the first round. It's not like they never play together, as they've played the doubles Tour together for years now. Williams sisters out as well. Gonna get some surprising winners for sure.

I wonder if GB isn't better off selecting Jamie Murray for mixed doubles now, though mixed doubles generally has more tennis from the back court, so I guess Andy should be the better choice anyway.

 

[Atwood]

Joao Sousa played solid tennis and put pressure on Del Potro third set. But JMDP got the one break he needed.

Juan Martin del Potro backs up his win from last night! Very happy to see him confident and playing well (even if his backhand may never be a weapon like it was in 2009). His forehand, movement, footwork and attitude are better than ever. He looked pretty tired the second set, however.

He'll play Taro Daniel tomorrow in singles. But he has to go play doubles vs Nadal and Lopez in a couple hours I think! Tough schedule. His singles draw looks good until the SF...maybe. Tsonga lost to Gilles Muller.

 

[BullsFan22]

I too, am happy for Del Potro. For a number of reasons. Not just the fact that his string of injuries that more or less took him out of his prime years 2010-2015, but because he seems like a very nice guy on and off the court. I remember how he, ironically, beat Safin and Roddick in their last career matches (2009 and 2012 respectively) and he was very gracious, particularly in Safin's ceremony right after that match at the Paris Indoors. Usually the winner of a match gets a nice ovation, but he quickly acknowledged Safin and sat down, and the crowd quickly realized and they clapped and cheered in appreciation. He then stayed put for the presentation, along with quite a few (at the time current) and retired players from the ATP.

He also rarely loses his temper (from what I have seen), he doesn't pull too many juvenile moves and hardly reverts to gamesmanship when he's getting beat.

Plus his game is all about attacking and not waiting for people to miss. That seems to be a rarity these days and I think most tennis fans appreciate that style of play.

 

[ILovecycling]

Looks like olympic years are bad for midseason Djokovic...the scenario of 2012 is here again. No Wimbledon, no Olympics wins.
OTOH he won RG this year, so imo this season is already a success.

Injury free Del Potro is always dangerous!

As much as I am Nadal fan, I cheer for Murray for gold as Rafa clearly made a mistake for playing doubles and he is not physically prepared for that.(I just hope his wrist will not get worse)

 

[Red Rick]

Djokovic not gonna win Cincinnati either, won't play until US Open I read. This is really a disaster for Djokovic. If he doesn't win the US Open this will probably be the year he missed his chance at being the GOAT.

With Nadal and Murray still in, we have a huge chance to see the first double Olympic men's singles champion, and if Murray wins, each of the Big 4 will be a record holder in a major tournament.

 

[Red Rick]

Mixed draw just came out. Andy Murray, reigning Wimbledon and Olympic champion and Heather Watson, reigning Wimbledon mixed doubles champ, are 2nd alternates. What the actual ***

 

[Atwood]

Epic South American clash coming up! Bellucci vs Cuevas. Going with Pablo in this one.

 

[Atwood]

Speaking of Andy Murray, he's is my pick to defend the Gold in singles. I don't know what to think about mixed doubles.
Can't believe Elina Svitolina beat Serena! Incredible win for her. Big opening for Kerber, Keys, Konta, Kvitova, Kasatkina, Svitolina, Siegemund or ...Puerto Rican, Monica Puig!.

Meanwhile the all-South American match isn't disappointing. Pablo is up against it and needs this 2nd set. Come on...

 

[Red Rick]

Benoit Paire kicked out, he'd already lost singles, so that's not too bad, but he did something to be sent home immediately. I wonder what idiots selected him, Benoit Paire is the most notorious match tanker on the ATP Tour and had even said the Olympics weren't a goal for him, prior to the event.

 

[Sciocco]

Happy to see Serena lose.

Maybe this rain delay will help JMDP out a bit. I'm 100% on the hype train for the Tandil Tower to achieve the gold medal.

 

[Red Rick]

Scheduling is officially gone to absolute sh!te now. Nadal was scheduled to play 3 matches yesterday, and no matches were played at all. If he were to reach the semi's of all events he'd have to play 10(!) matches in 4 days, and finals of men's doubles and singles are best of 5. Completely ridiculous. I don't get why they schedule the Olympic tennis tournament in only one week. If it's because of Cinci, then they could easily switch Cinci to a week later and have the 250's that are normally just prior to the US Open to the 2nd week of the Olympics.

Next week is Cincinnati, mandatory ATP 1000, and I don't think any of the top 5 will be there. Djokovic already pulled out, Fed is out for the year, I think Murray is very likely to pull out if he goes through to the finals, which I think he's very likely to do. Nadal is playing 3 events with a wrist injury, and wouldn't play if it weren't the OG. Wawrinka has a back injury and is unlikely to play as well. We may finally get somebody younger than Djokovic winning an ATP 1000

 

[Atwood]

Someone not participating in the medal rounds in Rio is going to have a rare opportunity Cincinnati. Who will it be? How about Nick Kyrgios or Bernard Tomic? Berdych or Raonic? I'm looking forward to it! The new 250 tournament in Cabo San Lucas sure looks like fun this week too.

 

[Atwood]

Some good tennis matches everywhere in Rio but have not been able to watch. What seemed like a routine win for Andy Murray has turned into a contest with Fabio Fognini. Can't see Andy losing this match but ... he's not on his game since the first set.

Big moment for Fabio to hold serve and be a break up on Andy in the final set but...he's bound to choke. no? Actually it looks like both are trying to lose -- up and down for both. Andy getting p***** of with his box. Should have been a straight set win for him. Fabio holds serve for 3-0 in the third!
Rafa looking the best competitor at this point.

Bellucci vs Nadal quarter final is already set.

 

[Red Rick]

Fabio 'Fog' Fognini is a man who can play like the GOAT one moment and then completely break down like nobody else the next, and I love him for it. That guy has such insane racket head speed for a guy his size and with his super short backswings. He'll never win anything big, but he makes the sport more interesting.

Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal is one set away from the doubles final together with Marc Lopez. I'd love it if they took the OG.

 

[Atwood]

Yes indeed... Fognini, Nishikori, and Goffin -- all three are favorites. Goffin and Nishikori consistently punching well above their height/ weight. Fabio is a legend in style and personality.

It's too tough for me to choose between Vasek/Daniel or Rafa/Marc. Either one. This is good. Tend to say, Go Canada!
Fed Cup #1, Czech Rep. looking good. I wonder if Petra can lead the charge and win OG singles? Cheering for Hingis/Bacszinzsky to win doubles. But two Czech teams left

Meanwhile Monfils makes it! He's the only French left. Will face Kei again...last time was Miami. Very good Quarter Finals coming up.

Kerber vs Keys and Kvitova vs Monica Puig Semi's are set. Is Petra at her Fed Cup best? Puig is an emotional favorite but I like Petra for the gold...or Angelique.

 

[Red Rick]

Tiebreak it is

Or not, did Nestor hit that ball before it went over the net or something?

Aaand tiebreak it is.

 

[Atwood]

Daniel looks so old and Vasek too nervous....

 

[Red Rick]

Aaaand Nadal/Lopez take it. I'm not sure which bromance is bigger, the Nadal/Lopez one or the Contador/Hernandez one