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Olympic Tennis Highs, Lows and Plenty of Drama
16 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Bios
For me, the story of the Olympics is Andy Murray saving seven career points in the doubles vs Japan and Belgium. Murray suffered and battled for two years, struggling with journeyman results, somehow seeming to know he had one last hurrah left in his Head racquet. And sure enough he’s delivering the final chapter of tennis magic in his Hall of Fame career.
Qinwen Zheng is also emerging now finally as a superstar elite WTA player. She endured the bullying of Emma Navarro’s humiliating handshake lecture after beating the American and today she beat Iga Swiatek 62 75 from a 0-4 deficit in the second set. It’s the first time Zheng has beaten Iga in six previous tries. Zheng is in the gold medal final.
Rafael Nadal is out of the Olympics after yesterday’s 62 64 thrashing to Americans Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek, two doubles specialists. It was a disastrous Olympic Games for Nadal who had the headstart training on clay since Wimbledon which he opted to not play. All the extra clay training resulted in mediocre results in Paris, a straight set loss to Djokovic in the second round and a straight set loss in doubles before the medal rounds.
Donna Vekic of Croatia is having a fantastic Olympics and is in the semis but as one former Grand Slam champion said, “she looks like she needs a few happy pills.” Yes, Vekic has a mostly somber presence on the court in the heat of battle and may benefit by practicing some smiling drills like forcing herself to smile for an hour straight. It’s been scientifically proven that forcing yourself to smile will change your mood and how you feel.
Djokovic touched his ear earlier in this week as if asking the crowd for some applause and the media crucified him for the gesture. But establishment favorite son Carlos Alcaraz routinely does the same gesture to stadium crowds and the media never once mentioned it, nor did they ever mention the strange place Nadal puts his fingers before every point of every pro match he’s ever played.
Carlos just beat Tommy Paul 63 76 from being down 25 in the second set, now in the semis.
Question: Is Nadal jealous of the Djokovic and Carlos friendship bond which he never had with any player? Is Nadal using Carlos for image reasons?
Djokovic has intentionally showed he’s back to wearing his cross after, pulling the chain out from under his collar for several interviews. For a long duration including this year and last year, Djokovic’s famous wooden cross was missing but now it’s back, a shiny new Orthodox version, presumably his silent protest to the anti Christ mockery satanic ritual horror show of the opening ceremony show and maybe Snoop Dogg’s baphomet chain.
This doubles gold run by Ram is especially satisfying because he was left off the US Davis Cup team for the finals two years ago, even though he was ranked 1 in the world. The reason was unclear but it was assumed because he wasn’t part of the American clique. USA lost in doubles with Jack Sock who many felt didn’t deserve to be on the final squad.
Nadal may retire this year… “I had set the Games as a goal since the beginning of the year and that cycle is over. Now I’m going home, I’m disconnecting, and when I know what my next step will be, with or without a racket in my hand, I’ll tell you.”
“Was it was my last on this Philippe Chatrier court? Maybe, I don’t know. If that’s the case, it will have been with unforgettable emotions. The public gave me love. The fans gave me love. They endured every second of my matches.”
Wimbledon semifinalist Lorenzo Musetti just beat Zverev 75 75 to reach the Olympic semis.
Carlos Alcaraz · Donna Vekic · Olympics · Qinwen Zheng · Rafael Nadal
Scoop Malinowski · August 1, 2024 at 11:44 am
Iga lost today to Qinwen and you have to wonder if Danimal’s savage attack on court yesterday where she called her a phony in front of millions could have had some psychological effect? Iga was humiliated and embarrassed by that scathing attack which is very rare in tennis, the last time it happened on court was when Connors pointed his finger at McEnroe’s face.
Sam · August 1, 2024 at 5:08 pm
Scoop, I don’t know much about Swiatek, but yes, I think that’s possible.
And do you think Djokovic injured himself too badly to be competitive tomorrow?
Scoop Malinowski · August 1, 2024 at 9:46 pm
Sam the spiritual factor will play a role, he asked his fans to pray for his knee. The power of prayer is a mighty force. Djokovic will be ready.
Sam · August 1, 2024 at 9:50 pm
Thanks for the reminder, Scoop—I’ll join the prayer chain. 🙏 ⛓
catherine · August 2, 2024 at 2:17 am
Yes, I think Iga hasn’t been happy in Paris, for whatever reasons, and maybe for a while before. She might need some time off.
Raducanu was forced to have time off which has probably worked in her favour.
catherine · August 2, 2024 at 7:52 am
BTW was it really necessary to zoom the camera in quite so close on Iga’s tears in her press conference ? Fairly obvious she was very upset.
Scoop Malinowski · August 2, 2024 at 8:51 am
Catherine, there have been some waterworks at press conferences, Iga, Capriati, Osaka, any others?
catherine · August 2, 2024 at 12:26 pm
Scoop – No, I can’t remember anyone crying in a press conference, not at a major tournament, although I’m sure they did in the locker room or later alone. Maybe people were a little more inhibited in those days when it came to emoting in public.
Plenty of people will tell Iga it’s not the end of the world but she won’t believe them.
Scoop Malinowski · August 2, 2024 at 2:04 pm
Catherine, Osaka, Capriati and Iga cried in the press conference, I’m sure others too. I saw several players crying after losses – Larcher de Brito, Mladenovic, Jankovic, Federer, Djokovic, Sampras…
Sam · August 2, 2024 at 3:17 pm
Scoop, I think our prayers had an effect. 😎 Time to pour some more on for the final. Carlos may be the favorite, but I still think Djokovic has a chance. 🙏
Scoop Malinowski · August 2, 2024 at 6:59 pm
Sam, Yes for sure the power of prayer made an impact on this match. In this world of chaos, the satanic poisoning of the Olympic image, the demonic genocide of israel against Palestine and thirsting for war against it’s defenders Lebanon and Iran that something very spiritual is about to happen in Paris.
Scoop Malinowski · August 2, 2024 at 9:09 pm
The table tennis is just as awe inspiring as the regular tennis… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tiw80AvWBJ0
catherine · August 3, 2024 at 4:31 am
Badosa beat Raducanu after 3 sets in mid-nineties heat. Washington is just inhuman.
I’ve said before that Emma reminds me slightly of Evonne (Goolagong) – another thing they share: both are slightly bow-legged. Also same grace of movement and hint of frailty.
Emma needs a killer shot and improved serve. Avoid these long 3 setters.
Scoop Malinowski · August 3, 2024 at 9:06 am
Catherine, like Osaka, Raducanu is right there with the wta’s best. We’ll see how much she really wants it.
catherine · August 3, 2024 at 10:21 am
Scoop – you’ve put your finger on it. I remember a quote from Emma not so long ago addressing the assembled hacks: ‘I’ll go where I want when I want and do what I want to do.’ In other words….
Scoop Malinowski · August 3, 2024 at 11:53 am
She clearly really wants it, but whether it’s to prove it to herself she can do it again, or it’s more to give a big FU to her critics and doubters, that’s the question. Sampras said he won that last US Open as an FU for all the people who said his marriage ruined his tennis.