Like most people, I was glued to my TV this weekend watching the Olympics. While I did see Team USA’s men’s volleyball team get their asses handed to them by Team Canada (bloody Canadians!!!!) and some of the swimming and gymnastics stuff, I spent much of my time watching the first rounds in Olympic Tennis. And let me tell you… all of the serious drama was going down on the tennis courts. Venus Williams lost her first round in singles. Then Venus and Serena Williams lost their first round in doubles. Then Novak Djokovic – the #1 player in the world!!!! – lost his first round to an out-of-nowhere Argentine. All in all, it was a crazy weekend for tennis.
First, let me start with the Williams sisters. Serena won her first round match in singles, so she’s on a path for Olympic gold still. We’ll see if she keeps it together. I actually suspect that her singles game might be more focused now that she and Venus are out of the doubles race. It was also widely discussed that Venus is currently suffering some kind of virus, and she did seem especially tired and lethargic on the court during her singles match and the doubles match the next day. The doubles loss is particularly brutal because every time Venus and Serena have come to the Olympics in their career, they’ve won gold in doubles.
As for Novak Djokovic, some people have been theorizing this year that he has a case of the Yips. Whatever it going on, his game has suffered a lot in the past few months. He got knocked out of Wimbledon early in July, and now this first-round loss at the Olympics. Novak is in a different position from the Williams sisters too: Novak only has one Olympic medal, a bronze from Beijing. To be fair to Djokovic during the first round, his opponent was EN FUEGO. He was beaten by Argentine Juan Martin del Potro. Del Potro is absolutely gorgeous and humble. Still, it was disconcerting to see Djokovic cry as he walked off the court. He is the #1 in the world, for the love of God. Del Potro cried too. Beautiful, hot, Argentine tears.
Photos courtesy of Getty.
Eh, too bad about Đoković. He’s always my no.2 person to root for in men’s tennis. It would have been better if he lost the first round in the doubles though.
As for the Williams sisters, I know Serena is beloved round here, and while I can appreciate all she has done, and how amazig she is, I just can’t warm to her. Venus I like.
But then again, I hardly know anything about tennis so I root for people depending on their personality and/or where they’re from.
I was at Djokovic game, everybody just got really surprised and upset, cause they expected him on the finals.
It’s understandably disappointing for Novak, but I was delighted for Del Potro, his career has been totally blighted by injury, he would undoubtedly have won more if not injured, so am really pleased. The Willams sisters have won three golds so again, not too fussed. Disappointed for the Murray boys going out though.
Del Potro is HOTNESS. What a tennis match too. Haha
Yes and the crying coming off the court was disconcerting and a tad extra.
Right? Del Potro also isn’t an “out of nowhere” player. He was a top 5 (top 3?) player a few years back and won the US Open before injuring his wrist and having surgery. He’s beaten Murray, Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, etc., plenty of times in the past.
For anyone who was paying attention, it wasn’t THAT shocking of a loss, since Nole has been off his game and Del Po has been making his comeback for a couple months now.
Thanks Samtha! He’s been on the circuit for years. Definitely not out of nowhere. I guarantee Novak knew him before they stepped on the court.
So happy for Del Potro!!!
Coming back from 2 years of surgeries and rehabilitation. He never gave up!!
The Olympics would be exiting if NBC COVERED ANYTHING! Very little airs in real time and they save the draws for prime time, but intercut it with other stuff, and the results are already out there online. Their sister stations are hardly better.
And get Rhan Seacrest off my screen.
(Felt bad for Venus. It was her match to lose and she was definitely ill, but a champion nonetheless.)
–TheRealPinky
I parked myself in front of my parent’s TV because they have DirecTV so I could just change channels from their own, to ESPN, to Argentina’s national station, etc but I still got so mad when the USA female gymnastics team came on and I missed Simone and Gabby on the vault. You could hear the crowd screaming while cameras were on the mixed group doing their floor routine. No disrespect to them, but I really wanted to see the USA team perform.
I watched the BBC stream yesterday and it was blissfully free of commercials and puff pieces. I was able to see all of the swimming races plus the medal ceremonies in real time. Plus the BBC commentators were snarky and shady and it was amazing. I’ll never go back to NBC.
I am so sorry for Novak. He is a hard worker and he puts a lot of heart every time. It was difficult seeing him in tears.
I feel sorry for Djokovic as this was, likely, his last chance to attain the Golden Slam; however; Del Potro deserved the win, he clearly used his 40 minutes stuck in a lift earlier in the day to mentally prepare.
He’d already lost at Wimbledon this year, so he didn’t have a chance at the Golden Slam this time around.
No chance at the Grand Slam this year true, but a Golden Slam is to have, at any point on their career (not necessarily simultaneously held in a given particular year), won all Grand Slam titles plus Singles’ Gold at The Olympics. Only Nadal and Agassi have achieved a Career Golden Slam thus far.
Dippit, I thought you were counting it as winning the slams and the Olympics in one year (a calendar year Golden Slam).
There’s no reason he can’t be back in four years to try again. He’s not THAT old–29, IIRC. As long as he stays relatively injury free, another Olympics is perfectly plausible. 🙂
P.S. Serena Williams and Steffi Graf both have Golden Slams–Steffi’s was a calendar year GS.
The term grand slam used to be reserved for winning all four titles in the calendar year. Rod Laver, still my greatest, did it as an amateur, couldn’t compete at the slams for years, then the rules changed and he came back and did it again as a professional. No golden slam because tennis wasn’t in the Olympics. I think the term has been somewhat devalued by applying it to anything but all four in a calendar year.
EDIT. Got all touchy before reading the full article. My bad.
Yes Del Potro is a great player (and a cutie pie), he won a grand slam.
Yeah. He’s a Grand Slam champion-defeated Roger to win US Open in 2009. When in form, he can blast any opponent out of the court and he has the most powerful forehand in the men’s game. I really wish he remains fit for the rest of the season. I have been rooting for him since such a long time. I really like Delpo!
Ps-He got stuck in an elevator for more than 40 mins yesterday before his match and no one came to help him. He was finally helped by the Argentine handball team later. Poor Delpo! Lol
Omg poor Delpo, I think he’s awesome and so hot too. Let’s hope he can continue playing, he’s been told by many doctors that his career was finished due to his wrist injury, and yet, here he is, it’s too much talent that keeps him going, I wonder where he’d be without this injury.
I didn’t see your original comment, but I love DelPo! I’ve volunteered at the Cincy Open in the past, and he is hands-down the nicest player.
Good to know, he always comes over that way.
The Williams sisters are great athletes who have well earned and respected careers. At some point a younger generation will come along and be victorious. It was a great match. I’m honestly not familiar with Novak because I don’t follow tennis much. Everyone does the best they can do on that particular day. Sometimes it’s just not your day.
(What does “he had a case of the Yips” mean?)
It’s a 30 Rock reference. The yips are when an athlete suddenly can’t perform at their usual level, likely because they’re psyching themselves out.
Haha, ‘the yips’ did not come from 30 Rock. It’s a term that originated in golf years and years ago, and has carried over into other sports. It originally meant that their short game was suffering from actual movement issues, especially as one ages. The term has evolved to describe any kind of ‘hiccup’ in an athlete’s level of play–whether physical or mental.
It was an expression long before 30 Rock came along.
Ja del Potro isn’t a tennis nobody… He’s just not consistent. But he’s had a few good matches under his belt. Didn’t watch the match so I can’t comment on whether Nole was out of sorts. Had to look up case of the yips 😉
He was out of the game due to injuries and physical rehab, not because he is inconsistent.
Sorry Cee, don’t want to put that Argentine ego through any unnecessary pain. I’m still hurting over Guillermo Coria😢
Sorry Cee, don’t want to put that Argentine ego through any unnecessary pain😉. I’m still hurting over Guillermo Coria😢
hahaha Guillermo Coria. I don’t even remember what his face looks like. Del Potro had a truly promising career but his injuries held him back. Hopefully he will be able to regain his rank and keep on playing.
I found the out of nowhere weird too. Maybe his current ranking isnt astonishing but Del Potro isn’t a nobody in tennis. I understand that Americans would be rather interested in US players (hence the focusing on S. Williams and lesser concern for the male tournament) but that seemed a little dismissing for Del Potro.
Especially since he is an olympic medalist (sp?) and won the US Open.
My argentine ego can’t take this LOL
I know, I still remember him crying in the past olympics too, he almost won!! I was falling in love with those tears too that time
My “out of nowhere” comment was more about how Novak was definitely the favorite to win. He is #1 in the world and literally no one thought Novak would lose in the first round.
But you used the phrase out-of-nowhere as an adjective, not as an adverb.
If you had said lost out of nowhere to an Argentine it would convey your intended meaning.
I read the article, your phrasing had me wondering who the hell beat Novak and was surprised to read Del Potro, I expected a complete unknown, not a former grand slam winner…
I love del Potro so was quite happy with this. Felt sorry for poor old Novak though. Bad year for him.
I still have two girls and many boys (one down from yesterday at seven in number). They are bonding over anticipation for tonight’s rugby sevens since all of them, including the girls, play sevens at school. So that’s better than yesterday. How have I become the apparently official village venue for ‘lympics viewing?
I’d take it as a compliment, Sixer. If nothing else it serves as proof that you’re a hospitable Gold Medal Mum. You probably take Gold in the ‘Snack Provision’ event too.
Enjoy it while you can; since my daughter departed for uni, and spends most outwith term-time away due to work, I miss rooms and the garden full of teen bodies ‘cluttering up’ the place.
It took months for me to realise I didn’t have to stock up on as much snack making ingredients after she departed for her 1st year.
Because Sixlet Minor makes them all sandwiches
I actually don’t mind them – provided it’s a quiet work period. I like kids, you know? Even when they are loud and obnoxious, they don’t cheese me off. They make me laugh.
But if it’s a heavy work period, I confess to harbouring slight resentment!
Sixlet Minor is frying eggs today. For some reason, this has become the go-to tween food.
Del Potro is a great player plagued by injuries lately- he actually beat Novak in London in the Bronze metal game! I’m still sad that my Roger Federer is injured and can’t play, but I’m glad that if it can’t be Roger, it’s not Novak!! Nadal won in 2008 and Murray in 2012 so I’m rooting for Tsonga – I love that guy! Vive la France!
Nooo Kaiser, Del Potro is not an out-of-nowhere tennis player! My argentine heart cries.
He was out of the game due to injuries and rehab and he’s just now getting back to his previous form. Hopefully his left hand will hold on and suffer no more injuries.
I don’t like Djokovic but these two are close friends and I love how they both cry openly in front of cameras. I love the Olympics – brings out the best in everyone.
Fuerza Delpo, vamos por mas!
Agreed, Del Potro has been around for a decade I think, he’s a seasoned player and famous in his own right.
I hope that both Serena and Andy Murray repeat as singles’ champions. As sad as it was to see them crash out of the women’s and men’s doubles, hopefully that will mean that their energies are focussed on the singles.
Isn’t Djokovic the one who said women should not get the same prize money as men in professional tennis? And that men were more popular and had more viewership in tennis? If that’s the case, he can suck it, I’m glad he lost. And if it’s not … well, I actually don’t really care about tennis, I just love Serena 🙂
Yes he is, that was him.
That’s what I thought. Good, I’m glad he lost 😉
YESSSSS. I cannot stand the arrogant Djokovic who is way up his own a**.
I’m thrilled for Del Potro!!!
No argentinian is humble. Ever. Watching Novak lose was heart breaking more so after Serena and Venus had lost earlier. It was like bizarro world yesterday. At least Nadal is still on the race and Serena can still get gold. We shall wait and see…
Del Potro is an amazing tennis player not just a nobody…hes coming back after injury.
I know that a lot of Olympic athletes are professionals in that they get money from sponsors and national federations, but I just don’t think that multi-millionaire athletes like the tennis players, golfers, and NBA players should be in the Olympics. I don’t know where the cut-off should be, but the Olympics shouldn’t be just another stop on the pro tour.
You have a good point Robin, even before the Zika Issue a lot of the golfers made it clear it wasn’t a priority for them.
It’s a good point, and generally I agree with you. But I do think the top tennis players make it a priority. Djokovic, Murray, Nadal (and Federer when he was younger) have all made it clear that they value the Olympics very highly.
Del Potro has won his second match less than 12 hours later. And now he’s off to play doubles, and his next singles is against Nadal (I think).
Whoever came up with this fixture is mean LOL
Like others, I have to WT? you at out-of-nowhere Argentine. He’s a top 10 player and a US Open Champion. Recent injuries, particularly to his wrist (surgery) have seen his playing diminish and ranking plummet. A case for a protected or adjusted ranking if ever I saw one – as would most every one after seeing forehand after forehand unleashed on Djokovic last night.
I don’t think Djokovic has the yips, I think he has a case of being stale. Too much tennis. Maybe too much control over everything. Splash out, have a piece of fish, maybe a glass of wine every 3 months, more than a square of chocolate as the occasional treat. He is one of the less mercenary of individual sportsmen. Sometimes the added pressure of playing for Serbia is too much but you could tell last night it really means a lot. His time at the net with DelPo speak volumes for his sportsmanship and his friendship. I’m glad DelPo went on to win again today otherwise that would be annoying… looking forward to him playing Rafa.
Williams sisters….. Venus not 100 but maybe a little ill and 36/37. It takes longer to shake things off now. Serena left with too much to think about. Flipkens played well and then later so did the Czech team. No doubt Serena will continue on.