GOLD MEDAL MATCH

Siniakova/Machac (CZE) vs Zheng/Wang (CHN)

Result: Machac/Siniakova 6-2 5-7 10-8  

Apparently Machac and Siniakova broke up a few weeks before the Olympics. But sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do because whatever they did worked. They’re taking gold medals back to Czechia. They beat Zheng/Wang in a dramatic battle and for a bit there looked like they weren’t going to win. Then going to win. Then not win. Ultimately, it came down to Zheng serving 8-7 in the third and Machac hit a great dipping return, followed up by a Zheng double fault. Then Machac closed it out for the Czechia win. I am sure it wss tough for Zheng knowing what it would mean for his doubles partner Machac to win with Sinia but he will want that double fault back vs Siniakova receiving. What a moment for the Czechs though as they win gold together.

Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) vs (Novak Djokovic) (SRB)

Result: Novak Djokovic (SRB) 6-4 6-2

Novak Djokovic, Novak Djokovic, Novak Djokovic. A classic big Djokovic match where he was asking his opponent to take it, and then capitalizes on his mistake. It was Musetti with the early chances, moving Djokovic wide. He doesn’t get any of those chances, is serving at 4-5 40-0, has a ball to put away literally on top of the net at 40-30 and that was all for the first set. The second set, more of the same. Only this time, Musetti taking advantage of his break points, wasn’t able to capitalize on any of them. It was Novak who bounced right back every time and re broke Musetti. He broke Musetti every game of the second set. He was taking the return early and pinning the ball to Musetti’s backhand on one of the first few balls. Musetti is going to be kicking himself for not doing more and at least grabbing one of those sets. Still a chance to play for a bronze medal.

Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) Felix Auger Aliassime

Result: Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) 6-2 6-1

Carlos Alcaraz Garfia, showing once again why he is the best player in the world, no matter the ranking next to his name. He and prime Federer are the only two players I’ve ever seen where I’ve genuinely wondered if they’re going to get bored of the game because they’re so good. Half the time today he was just trying stuff out there. And that is saying something because he has seemingly mastered everything there is to master in tennis. Roping forehands. Hitting finesse, angle dropshots when Felix was already at the net, and still winning the point. Moving his return position around all over the court, running to the chair, toying with Felix. It had nothing to do with Felix out there today, it was just the Carlos Alcaraz show. Even Mary Carillo said “Carlos Alcaraz is lighting up this court right now”. It was hot shot after hot shot and he has seemingly mastered the game of tennis. What are you supposed to do if you are Felix? There’s no weakness, and his game never slipped at all. He is one match away from becoming the youngest male singles gold medal winner ever and one Aussie Open away from holding all the 5. I think there is a good chance he will hold all 5 at the same time. The Carlitos Calendar they’ll call that. As for Felix, he still has a chance at a Bronze Medal but with the tension and pressure of a bronze medal match vs Djokovic or Musetti it’ll be a tough one for him. 

Errani/Paolini (ITA) vs Muchhova/Noskova (CZE

Result: Errani/Paolini (ITA) 6-3 6-2

Errani and Paolini aren’t doubles specialists because they’ve both had great singles careers, but they’re full time doubles players. They do this week in and week out, vs a team who had 2 matches together coming into this. If Noskova and Muchova played together full time no doubt they’d be able to be a force, but it was clear today which team was more comfortable playing doubles. Errani and Paolini took care of there serve surprisingly well, winning 77% of their first serve points throughout the match and only facing 1 break point. That’s a stat Muchova and Noskova will wish they could’ve put more of a dent in in return games but it just never happened today. Neither of the Italians are known for their serves by any means so if they can keep that number up they’re going to have a good chance to add a Gold Medal for Italy.

Iga Swiatek (POL) vs Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK)

Result: Iga Swiatke (POL) 6-2 6-1 Bronze Medal

Iga came out and got broken early and I thought maybe Danielle Collins really did reset her. But after that it was all Iga winning 12 out of the next 13 games. They were just in different tiers. Shmiedlova is a more passive player who likes to run around and use angles to make things happen. You can’t do that against Iga though, if you let her gain court positioning, especially on clay she’ll just run you around like a dog. Her heavy whipping forehand was killing Schmiedlova today and after her match against Vekic yesterday her confidence couldn’t have been too high and playing the best player on clay of the past five years, that can’t help either. Iga came out to prove she should be playing for Gold, and she knows she probably missed her best chance at Gold, given the Venue. Still though, she leaves with a medal.

Paul/Fritz (USA) vs Peers/Ebden (AUS)

Result: Peers/Ebden (AUS) 7-5   6-2

The Americanos came out with a ton of energy jumping around, especially TP. he was like an energizer jumping around. They were ripping returns early, had chances, unfortunately couldn’t get them, and it was servers paradise until the Aussies finally broke to go up 6-5. Served it out 7-5. TP and Fritz were much more vulnerable when Tommy was serving and Taylor at the net. The Aussies saw what Murray did at the end of the last match and implemented that going at him whenever they saw opportunity. For the first time in a pro doubles match I thought the serving team should have played two back. Tommy was the best all around player on the court, but the older Aussie squad had too much experience on big stages in doubles matches. 

They kept that momentum up by breaking Taylor the first game of the 2nd set. Tommy popped up, had a volley to put away, didn’t put it away, and Peers made him pay with a reflex winner cross court. The Aussies have great hands and when the American’s would pepper balls at them they would just stab it back, no problem. Compared to Fritz hitting swing backhand volleys, that was the major difference. The pressure kept mounting and made TP/Taylor feel like they had to play perfect or their weaknesses were being exposed as the veterans kept extending their lead. They close the net so well and when both players were up they were winning the majority of points. There is such a difference in doubles players who are only practicing those skills nonstop, and singles players who aren’t as focused on some of the doubles skills that the doubles specialists have dialed in. The Aussies aren’t to be taken lightly. Ebden has won 3 GS doubles titles, and pPeers has been to finals of Wimbledon and US Open. Aussies go digging for gold vs Raj and Kraj and Claylor and Tommy will play vs Pavlesek/Machac for bronze.

Andreeva/Shnaider (RUS) vs Bucsa/Sorribes Tormo (ESP)

Result: Andreeva/Shnaider (RUS) 6-1 6-2

At Roland Garros on Chatrier it says “Victory belongs to the most tenacious” and that was the story of this match. The Russian duo being much more aggressive all around; closing the net, serve, grounstrokes. The Spanish team was consistent from the back and change direction with a lob but are much more comfortable on a singles court. Sorribes Tormo actually has had good doubles results reaching a career high of 17. She is so solid from the back, similar to an Errani, that paired with the right partner to contrast her game style, she can be effective. Unfortunately though her partner Bucsa is similar in the way they’d both rather be at the baseline, missing the enforcer. The Russians used the offensive firepower to get a break right off the bat on Bucsa serve. Both Andreeva and Diana Shnaider have good serves too, especially the lefty of Shnaider paired with a walloping forehand. She has to have the best swing volley in all of tennis right now. And one of Andreeva’s best aspects of her game is her serve also. Once they get a break they are tough. It’ll be a good contrast in styles tomorrow vs the Italian team for a Gold medal.