Olympic Games Tokyo

Kralingen

Talk Tennis Guru
Nagal is not epic. Not GOATY. Broken in the first game and wearing a stupid looking kit (no offense India) to top it off.

My disappointment is immeasurable.
 
Am personally fine with skate boarding being included it does require hours of physical training after all, but draw the line when gaming is called e-sports (it definitely ain't a sport) and is a medal event with mainstream sports.

It was a medal event at the Asian games. (n)

exactly. Speed skate should be too.

Yeah Rio has e-sport lol. It should be in Olympic version of games that has bridge, chess, pools etc.
 

Kralingen

Talk Tennis Guru
The best part is the winner of Millman and Fokina gets Djokovic next round, and they'll have just done 3+ hours on a sweltering hot court.

What a pointless match.
 

WhiskeyEE

G.O.A.T.
Nishikori is playing doubles with a guy named Ben McLachlan. Born and raised in New Zealand. Still lives in New Zealand. Educated at UC Berkeley. lol.
 

D-Lite

Hall of Fame
Nishikori is playing doubles with a guy named Ben McLachlan. Born and raised in New Zealand. Still lives in New Zealand. Educated at UC Berkeley. lol.
His mother is Japanese so he easily qualifies. Just like Norrie's qualification for GB as his parents are British.
 

WhiskeyEE

G.O.A.T.
His mother is Japanese so he easily qualifies. Just like Norrie's qualification for GB as his parents are British.

I know he technically qualifies for that reason. It is just kind of dumb. He has seemingly never even lived in Japan. He's a New Zealander who is more American than Japanese.
 
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Kralingen

Talk Tennis Guru
Why do I feel that Struff will win today
Nahhh there’s a reason he’s never beat any of the Big 3 (or Murray come to think of it).

His mobility is not good enough and he’ll tire before Djokovic does. Could cause some issues early but he doesn’t have the top level game to actually pull off the upset.
 
He said yesterday that he was excited to draw Djokovic and feels that he can beat him:unsure:
That’s confidence by the German. Struff must know something we don’t. I guess the pressure of always being favourite and all these guys having nothing to lose will catch Novak out at somepoint. The best 3 format is more of a concern for this match and rest of the week too.
 
Nahhh there’s a reason he’s never beat any of the Big 3 (or Murray come to think of it).

His mobility is not good enough and he’ll tire before Djokovic does. Could cause some issues early but he doesn’t have the top level game to actually pull off the upset.
His chances are better over best of 3 sets. I guess all it takes is one guy this week or struff to get that first set than Djokovic is in a bit of trouble. Still Novak the favourite but eventually some player will just play very well and freely and that could be the difference over best of 3.
 

Kralingen

Talk Tennis Guru
His chances are better over best of 3 sets. I guess all it takes is one guy this week or struff to get that first set than Djokovic is in a bit of trouble. Still Novak the favourite but eventually some player will just play very well and freely and that could be the difference over best of 3.
I actually don't think Djokovic wins the Olympics personally (but am not going to advertise it).

That 3 day stretch for a 34 year old coming off Wimbledon two weeks ago is so difficult, especially in what looks like hot and humid conditions aka Djokovic's kryptonite. He'll likely have Karatsev or Zverev in the 3rd match in a row and both of them have the power and retrieval ability to really push Djokovic physically... I honestly see Djokovic losing there but have definitely been wrong before.
 
I actually don't think Djokovic wins the Olympics personally (but am not going to advertise it).

That 3 day stretch for a 34 year old coming off Wimbledon two weeks ago is so difficult, especially in what looks like hot and humid conditions aka Djokovic's kryptonite. He'll likely have Karatsev or Zverev in the 3rd match in a row and both of them have the power and retrieval ability to really push Djokovic physically... I honestly see Djokovic losing there but have definitely been wrong before.
Yeah I agree. I have a that feeling too. It’s just this event has always deserted him and he does want it a lot which comes with pressure too. Like you say a tricky draw with big hitters, best of 3 and combined with brutal conditions makes it a tough assignment for djoker this week. I hope he pulls it off but the rest of field have more chances in this format with these conditions for sure.
 

Kralingen

Talk Tennis Guru
Djokovic with 8 aces in 4 service games lol

again this is Struff’s issue he doesn’t have mobility. That being said this S&V game is actually giving Novak more trouble than I thought. Prime Pete to destroy Djokovic confirmed? It seems so
 

ChrisRF

Legend
Djokovic with 8 aces in 4 service games lol

again this is Struff’s issue he doesn’t have mobility. That being said this S&V game is actually giving Novak more trouble than I thought. Prime Pete to destroy Djokovic confirmed? It seems so
Yes, Djokovic being such a great server now is the main reason why he is a better player than during his mythical “peak“ that some people don’t want to accept being right now, because it just “cannot be” at age 34.
 

Kralingen

Talk Tennis Guru
Lol Struff self destructs
As soon as he went down 0-15 I would have bet my entire savings he lost the game and set. There's something in the eyes that just told me he broke internally.

It's almost scary how easily it is to predict when Djokovic's opponent is going to get broken these days. He changes his return strategy slightly, then gets a bit of luck, then it's 0-40 and the game is gone. The commentators can tell also.
 

Kralingen

Talk Tennis Guru
Yes, Djokovic being such a great server now is the main reason why he is a better player than during his mythical “peak“ that some people don’t want to accept being right now, because it just “cannot be” at age 34.
I'm not gonna go that far, Nole Slam-level '15/16 Djokovic was definitely a better player than this in my opinion. 2016 AO and 15 Wimbledon would probably have little issue beating the 2021 versions of Djokovic that played at those tournaments.

But yeah his serves, especially serve placement, and volleys/net game are really quite good these days and provide him with a get out of jail free card. Tactically you feel he picks his moments whereas 2012-14 Djokovic just kind of played the same way all match and eventually would tire out or lose focus from the baseline. I think the actual level of tennis 2021 Djokovic plays is disrespected around here for sure. It's not just weak era mugs lol.
 

ChrisRF

Legend
I'm not gonna go that far, Nole Slam-level '15/16 Djokovic was definitely a better player than this in my opinion. 2016 AO and 15 Wimbledon would probably have little issue beating the 2021 versions of Djokovic that played at those tournaments.

But yeah his serves, especially serve placement, and volleys/net game are really quite good these days and provide him with a get out of jail free card. Tactically you feel he picks his moments whereas 2012-14 Djokovic just kind of played the same way all match and eventually would tire out or lose focus from the baseline. I think the actual level of tennis 2021 Djokovic plays is disrespected around here for sure. It's not just weak era mugs lol.
Honestly, he only had it difficult to win RG (but against really good opposition) and the AO match he was injured in against Fritz.

At Wimbledon this year he wasn’t in danger of losing at all. So it looks like he gets even better now for the final part of the season.

But you are his fan I think and I am not (however, I respect his achievements and to some degree I want a Golden Slam to happen). So it’s understandable that you’ll be more nervous and doubtful about his current form. ;)
 

Kralingen

Talk Tennis Guru
Honestly, he only had it difficult to win RG (but against really good opposition) and the AO match he was injured in against Fritz.

At Wimbledon this year he wasn’t in danger of losing at all. So it looks like he gets even better now for the final part of the season.

But you are his fan I think and I am not (however, I respect his achievements and to some degree I want a Golden Slam to happen). So it’s understandable that you’ll be more nervous and doubtful about his current form. ;)
Nahh I just bet on him to win 2-0 in this match so am watching more attentively than usual. I do prefer the Big 3 in general to everyone else though.

It's less nervousness and more a feeling that, while he has the clutch serving and volleying, the strategy of elevating for big points is sort of masking what is a real decline in his play. Like you can tell his groundstrokes and movement are not at pre-2016 levels or even 2019 levels really. I think he would definitely be exposed by an aggressive player who knew what they were doing but no one has shown the consistency to do this in the 2021 field.
 
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