- Moderator
- #1
Because tennis is a big sport and whose very existence in the Olympics is always questioned, lets have the thread in our own forum. We are too big for the games section 
It has been 5 years since Rio, a very delicious tournament. Who can forget Novaks tears after losing in the first round to eventual silver medalist Juan Martin Del Potro, sadly missing in Tokyo. Murray would win his 2nd singles gold medal in a row and is looking for a 3rd. You be a brave man to bet on him, but the best of 3 might suit him. In the womens, Monica Puig would in Puerto Rico first gold medal. Sadly, her career since has been full of injury and she might not even be able to return to the tour.
Its not ideal Olympics. No crowds and a bubble environment. A lot of players have decided to miss or are injured including some of the biggest names in Rafa, Fed, Serena, Kerber and Azarenka. 11 of the top 20 in the men's are missing and 5 of the top 20 are missing in the girls. Still, both Wimbledon and world number 1's are here and both are fav's with the bookies. All games(including the men's final this year ) are the best of 3 TB sets. doubles has a match tie break in the 3rd set. the court is a medium-paced and bounced hard court. 64 player/team draws in the singles, 32 in doubles, 16 in mixed.
For the men's, Novak is going for a very rare feat, a Golden Slam. He is over halfway there and would just need a gold medal here and in New York to become the first man to complete such an achievement. The fact he is here, despite his hate of Covid bubbles, showcases his respect to the Olympics and his love of his country. Plus, he has never won a gold medal before. This might be the hardest leg of the golden slam, with the best of 3 sets, fatigue and the best hard courters still around in Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev and Andrey Rublev. For the Aussies, we lack our number 1 player in Alex de Minaur(out with Covid) and our number 1 gamer in Nick Kyrgios. Our hope is John Millman and the Duck. Unlikely to trouble round 2, let alone the medal rounds.
In the Ladies field, the draw is much stronger and sees the return of hometown hopeful Naomi Osaka. Wimbledon finalist Pliskova is 8th fav in the betting, that is how crazy strong this field still is. Barty, Osaka, Sabalenka, Swiatek, Muguruza, Kvitova. The Czech team is so strong that Karolina Muchova didn't make the cut. Osaka has been nearly unbeatable on hard courts but would like a couple of easy ones early to get in the swing of things again. It wouldn't surprise me if we see a "shock" winner. The depth is crazy. Special shout out to Kiki Bertens, who is playing her last tournament before hanging up her racquet. The Aussie team is lead by Barty and she is favourite and the world number 1. expectations will be high for a medal but it is a tough field. Ajla Tomljanovic is coming off the best result in her career. Special shout out to Sam Stosur, who is in her 5th Olympics. She got in due to her US Open win as a legacy pick by the ITF.
The doubles and mixed are always interesting. I reckon the Olympics are the best doubles/mixed comps every 4 years. Some big names have won medals here such as Federer, Nadal, Williams', and Tsonga. Barty is a fantastic doubles player and will be playing with Storm Sanders(41st in doubles). It is an outside chance but there are some very strong teams in the field. The Russians(Vesinia) and Czechs plus the reunion of Kiki/Garcia. something to keep an eye out for the next 16 days. I know nothing about men's doubles and mixed is not out yet.
The draw will be out shortly but Barty/Osaka and Medvedev/Novak will be on opposite sides of the draw.
It has been 5 years since Rio, a very delicious tournament. Who can forget Novaks tears after losing in the first round to eventual silver medalist Juan Martin Del Potro, sadly missing in Tokyo. Murray would win his 2nd singles gold medal in a row and is looking for a 3rd. You be a brave man to bet on him, but the best of 3 might suit him. In the womens, Monica Puig would in Puerto Rico first gold medal. Sadly, her career since has been full of injury and she might not even be able to return to the tour.
Its not ideal Olympics. No crowds and a bubble environment. A lot of players have decided to miss or are injured including some of the biggest names in Rafa, Fed, Serena, Kerber and Azarenka. 11 of the top 20 in the men's are missing and 5 of the top 20 are missing in the girls. Still, both Wimbledon and world number 1's are here and both are fav's with the bookies. All games(including the men's final this year
) are the best of 3 TB sets. doubles has a match tie break in the 3rd set. the court is a medium-paced and bounced hard court. 64 player/team draws in the singles, 32 in doubles, 16 in mixed.For the men's, Novak is going for a very rare feat, a Golden Slam. He is over halfway there and would just need a gold medal here and in New York to become the first man to complete such an achievement. The fact he is here, despite his hate of Covid bubbles, showcases his respect to the Olympics and his love of his country. Plus, he has never won a gold medal before. This might be the hardest leg of the golden slam, with the best of 3 sets, fatigue and the best hard courters still around in Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev and Andrey Rublev. For the Aussies, we lack our number 1 player in Alex de Minaur(out with Covid) and our number 1 gamer in Nick Kyrgios. Our hope is John Millman and the Duck. Unlikely to trouble round 2, let alone the medal rounds.
In the Ladies field, the draw is much stronger and sees the return of hometown hopeful Naomi Osaka. Wimbledon finalist Pliskova is 8th fav in the betting, that is how crazy strong this field still is. Barty, Osaka, Sabalenka, Swiatek, Muguruza, Kvitova. The Czech team is so strong that Karolina Muchova didn't make the cut. Osaka has been nearly unbeatable on hard courts but would like a couple of easy ones early to get in the swing of things again. It wouldn't surprise me if we see a "shock" winner. The depth is crazy. Special shout out to Kiki Bertens, who is playing her last tournament before hanging up her racquet. The Aussie team is lead by Barty and she is favourite and the world number 1. expectations will be high for a medal but it is a tough field. Ajla Tomljanovic is coming off the best result in her career. Special shout out to Sam Stosur, who is in her 5th Olympics. She got in due to her US Open win as a legacy pick by the ITF.
The doubles and mixed are always interesting. I reckon the Olympics are the best doubles/mixed comps every 4 years. Some big names have won medals here such as Federer, Nadal, Williams', and Tsonga. Barty is a fantastic doubles player and will be playing with Storm Sanders(41st in doubles). It is an outside chance but there are some very strong teams in the field. The Russians(Vesinia) and Czechs plus the reunion of Kiki/Garcia. something to keep an eye out for the next 16 days. I know nothing about men's doubles and mixed is not out yet.
The draw will be out shortly but Barty/Osaka and Medvedev/Novak will be on opposite sides of the draw.
Australias team said:
