Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will kick off their Olympic campaigns during first-round action on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro. Djokovic is facing Juan Martin Del Potro, while Nadal is beginning his comeback against Federico Delbonis.
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. Juan Martin Del Potro
Djokovic and Del Potro will be squaring off for the 15th time in their careers when they collide at the Olympics–again–on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro. The familiar foes faced each other in the bronze-medal match at the 2012 London Games, where Del Potro triumphed 7-5, 6-4 on the grass courts of the All-England Club. Djokovic, however, is dominating the head-to-head series 11-3 and he has won six of their seven previous hard-court encounters (not including one retirement). Due mostly to Del Potro’s extensive wrist-injury problems, these two Grand Slam champions have not met since the 2013 World Tour Finals, an event that saw the Serb prevail 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 during round-robin action.
Del Potro’s 2016 comeback from his latest wrist surgery has been slow but steady. The 27-year-old Argentine is 13-8 for the season and his recent grass-court swing included a semifinal showing in Stuttgart and a third-round performance at Wimbledon. Del Potro got adjusted to the Olympic courts on Saturday, when he teamed up with Maximo Gonzalez to win their first doubles match 6-4, 7-5 over the Australian duo of Chris Guccione and John Peers. Djokovic bounced back from a shocking Wimbledon loss to Sam Querrey by lifting another Masters 1000 trophy at the Rogers Cup. Having settled for bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics before missing out on a medal in London, Djokovic should be more than motivated in Rio. That is bad news for Del Potro, for whom this obviously an extremely bad draw.
Pick: Djokovic in 2
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(3) Rafael Nadal vs. Federico Delbonis
Nadal will be taking the court for the first time since round two of the French Open when he begins his bid for a second career gold medal. The Spaniard kicked off his effort for a 10th title at Roland Garros by destroying Sam Groth and Facundo Bagnis, but he suddenly withdrew because of a wrist problem. Nadal missed Wimbledon and everything else in between the French Open and the Olympics, but he appears to be good to go for Rio. After all, not only is he signed up for singles but he is also competing in the two doubles disciplines (men’s with Marc Lopez and mixed with Garbine Muguruza).
Up first for Nadal on Sunday is a third career meeting with Delbonis. Their two previous encounters resulted in clay-court beatdowns in Nadal’s favor; he cruised 6-3, 6-2 at the 2013 Vina Del Mar event before rolling 6-1, 6-1 last season in Buenos Aires. Delbonis is in the midst of a stellar season that has him at No. 43 in the rankings thanks to a 23-14 ATP-level record. The left-handed Argentine enjoyed a consistently strong buildup to Roland Garros that featured a second career title in Marrakech, but starting in Paris he has lost first-round matches at three consecutive tournaments. Even with Nadal’s rust, that streak will almost certainly extend to four.
Pick: Nadal in 2
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Vamos!
Rafa’s no dummy. 🙂
An excerpt from Rafa’s post-match interview:
Question: “What part of your game is still affected by [the wrist injury]?”
Rafa (laughing): “I don’t gonna say that now here. Would be very stupid if I do it.”
(Source: Trouble Fault)
Yes, when Rafa was asked what part of his game is affected by the wrist, he said no way was he going to give that away!
Rafa’s laugh and smile was so charming! He is a delight even as he very smartly refuses to give any prospective opponents any info on how the wrist might affect his game!
Rafa is a cagey one! It’s just so nice to see him come back playing well and looking so happy! He deserves a break after going through yet another injury.
I loved what the commentators said at the end of his match as Rafa waved to the crowd while leaving the court after his match – the game is better with this man in it!
Yes! Great words in tribute to a truly great player!
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hahahaha what a stupid question!! Well common sense dictates that his forehand would be shaky as it was his left wrist. The backhand is still very solid and I am noticing he is gradually trying to incorporate the backhand DTL more and more…it is gradual and the real test will be against quality baseliners who’ll rush him.
Rafa’s new sreving position on the Ad court is tactical masterpiece to be honest. I am a fan of it so far but I have one reservation too. The new positioning enabled him to defend his second serves a lot better and don’t forget this is the Ad court where break points, game points etc are played so it will helps his nerves too knowing his second serve is less vulnerable.
My concern is that his first serve has become less offensive. He goes mostly for body serves to set up forehands but good returners will find his backhand esp because there is a lot more space to find his backhand now .His biggest serve (up the middle on teh ad court) seems to have gone.. he is standing far from the center line and the serve is always coming towards the returner so finding that up the middle corner is tougher now. I hope he can still go for that serve nice and flat when in trouble. The plus side is that his slider out-wide gets an even better angle now and possibly higher percentage.
In Rome against Novak he had success on his second serve but once Novak stated reading body serves, his first serve on the Ad court got less effective.
The wide serve on the deuce court has shown good progress since Indian wells and it drove Novak nuts in Rome… Keep working hard Rafa!!
Please excuse all typos in my posts..like almost always, I am writing in a hurry haha
vr,
Thanks for your observations. I heard on tv that Rafa won in men’s doubles today, too! I am now watching Novak/Delpo! Good one so far!
As you said, the left wrist will affect his forehand. But that was a silly question to ask Rafa! As if he is going to tell everyone how the wrist is affecting what part of his game.
We know that rafa has his doctor with him monitoring his wrist. There is acute pain and then there is soreness. We don’t know exactly what kind of pain Rafa is having now. His problem is not as serious as Delpo’s because that required surgery. Rafa also developed wrist problems later in his career. I don’t think his doctor would let him play through the pain if it meant having to take more time off.
Rafa has set an ambitious schedule for himself by entering all three events, singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles. They did wait the longest to decide on entering the singles. But I assume his doctor felt he could handle it.
I hope it’s a different type of pain, maybe brought on by some soreness because of being pushed harder in actual match play.
Rafa (post-match interview): “I didn’t want to miss these Olympic Games. Being flag bearer is something I’ll never forget.” [Translated by GSS]
https://twitter.com/tenisolimpico/status/762377897273397248
Both Novak and Delpo playing well, I would say Delpo giving his all! He is such a nice guy! Novak hitting some amazing shots, he proves again his master class! Fans are loving it!
Everyone should be watching Novak/Delpo. They are in a first set tb. Good stuff from both guys.
Delpo had chances to break in the first set, but couldn’t get it done.
Novak has played some really smart tennis, but Delpo is hanging in there and showing his stuff.
Crowd is loving it!
Missed forehand from Novak gives Delpo 4-2 in the tb.
Delpo’s wrist required surgery AFTER he played through the pain. Did you suppose, dear native, that Delpo had no problem before he had his surgery? That he had the surgery just for the heck of it? Some confusion in native’s mind about cause and effect!!! An example of Real Rafan logic!!! Hilarious!
At least nny is faithful to her original moniker ritb lol.
Delpo 6-3!
Delpo wins the first set!
Terrific match and atmosphere thus far. Cmon Novak!
Delpo’s fans playing huge role in this match! Delpo ends up winning the first set! He is so motivated, playing with his heart! Amazing match!
Delpo won the first set!!! Vamos Delpo!
What a point!
Great DTL forehand winner from Delpo to get another break point against Novak.
Novak comes up with the goods when he has to fight off break points.
Delpo doing a lot of damage again with that DTL forehand.
I hope Delpo doesn’t let Djok back. Djok’s playing some amazing shots!
Delpo forehand just on fire today
Delpo is ripping that DTL forehand, taking it so early. Novak doesn’t have an answer,
vamos delpo!