RaulRamirez
Legend
I don't want to overanalyze this match, but in top-of-my-head order, here are some thoughts about today's Olympics (second round) matchup of these greats, who are my favorite players of the last 20 years and arguably, the two best of the OE.
1. I won't speculate if this will, in fact, be their last meeting. I hope they have at least one more -- and with both in good form.
2. The match gave me mixed feelings in a few different ways, mostly: I was happy to see them share the court, but in Round 2? (As there was no guarantee that both could have made it to, say, the medal round, I guess I'll take it.
3. While a Rafa win would've knotted them at 30 head-to-head wins apiece, I don't know that this was a big legacy match.
4. Having said that, it was a big step for Novak making a last go at a gold medal. Towards that end, except for that stretch when his play dropped off and Rafa came on, he looked to be moving well and hitting cleanly, with purpose. It remains to be seen if he can pull this off, but I wouldn't count him out. I don't make many predictions (and they're not great when I do), but I will pick him to go to the final.
5. Likewise, I won't count Rafa from yet another comeback, although with each year, the odds get longer, even for him. How much of his (relatively) slower movement is due to an injury which he could rebound from rather than all the wear and tear and chronic injuries that don't augur well? I'd love to see him and Carlos win the doubles, and then, it's his call how much more to put into an absolutely extraordinary career.
1. I won't speculate if this will, in fact, be their last meeting. I hope they have at least one more -- and with both in good form.
2. The match gave me mixed feelings in a few different ways, mostly: I was happy to see them share the court, but in Round 2? (As there was no guarantee that both could have made it to, say, the medal round, I guess I'll take it.
3. While a Rafa win would've knotted them at 30 head-to-head wins apiece, I don't know that this was a big legacy match.
4. Having said that, it was a big step for Novak making a last go at a gold medal. Towards that end, except for that stretch when his play dropped off and Rafa came on, he looked to be moving well and hitting cleanly, with purpose. It remains to be seen if he can pull this off, but I wouldn't count him out. I don't make many predictions (and they're not great when I do), but I will pick him to go to the final.
5. Likewise, I won't count Rafa from yet another comeback, although with each year, the odds get longer, even for him. How much of his (relatively) slower movement is due to an injury which he could rebound from rather than all the wear and tear and chronic injuries that don't augur well? I'd love to see him and Carlos win the doubles, and then, it's his call how much more to put into an absolutely extraordinary career.