Novak Djokovic (SRB) def Rafael Nadal (ESP): 6-1 6-1
Going into the match all pressure was on Novak. It was the biggest underdog Nadal had ever been against Novak, and the biggest underdog he had been in general in over a decade. I thought that would allow Rafa to be able to swing freely and play loose and relaxed because there were no expectations on Rafa. But instead Novak came out, held serve in a tough deuce game, and then got the early break for 2-0, putting all the pressure on Rafa now to come up with something to get back on the match. It gets daunting. It’s what Alcaraz did to Novak in the first two sets at Wimbledon this year. Getting that early break, especially as a favorite, makes it seem like an uphill battle to climb.
Novak was working the dropshot, taking advantage of 2nd serve returns, and ripping backhands in particular. Both cross court and DTL. When Novak played Rafa at RG in 2021, it was the first time I had ever really thought yeah this guy Novak can do everything. For a while he was just a wall for the most part, not having much offensive tennis. But in that match he zoned in, you could see his eyes get huge, and he started red lining both groundies playing more aggressive than ever. And he executed it. I thought man this guy really has no weakness. That 3rd set was one of the best sets of tennis, around 90 minutes and going to a breaker. That’s the same game style Novak came out playing today vs Rafa and never let up, not letting Rafa control anything, and Novak dictating everything. In 2020 it was Nadal with the 60 first set, today Novak didn’t quite get his revenge but won the first 6-1.
The 2nd set was merely the same thing. Novak breaking the first game of the set, rifling backhands DTL and CC, showing why many say he has the best backhand of all time. Hitting around the net forehand winners. Ridiculous. Then a double break, 3-0, chokehold. But with Snoop Dogg and Billie Jean King together in the crowd, there had to be some dramatics to the match. Rafa found a little rhythm and was able to hold serve and produce a break point, just making viewers (and probably Djokovic) just think a bit. And he did. He double faulted for 2-4. If that was asking questions then he put Djokovic on the stand cause he keeps hounding him. Holds again 3-4. 40-30 break point, throws up a lot to Novak. Always been Val’s worst part of his game, but this overhead should’ve been put away. Instead it’s Rafa with the overhead off the overhead!! Right at Novak feet! Followed by the forehand pass. Unbelievable scenes, the crowd erupts and Rafa’s right back in it at 4-4.
I wouldn’t even say Rafa played a bad match, Novak just took the racquet out of his hands from the jump, and it took a monumental effort from Rafa to even get in the match. He has to be bummed, nearing the end of his career and he goes down like this in his last Olympics. He is still playing at a solid level, just not near the level he used to be. Who knows where his career will go from here. I hope it’s not done but it’s sad seeing him have no chance in a match. It was obvious how bad he wanted it, living and dying with every shot towards the end of the 2nd set. But the way Novak played today, the only person with even a shot to beat him is Alcaraz, and even he would have to play an incredible match to beat Novak.
Shoutout Viktor Troicki in Djokovic box. Could that be a new coach to Novak? What a legend he was.
Svitolina (UKR) def. Pegula (USA): 4-6 6-1 6-3
Svito 2.0 has clearly been trying to be more aggressive since she’s been back. At Wimbledon she had success doing that and stuck to her guns. We’ve seen her in the past do it at times but in big moments go back to what she is comfortable with and playing primarily defensive tennis. She was running around backhands looking to hit forehands and attack going inside-in and inside-out. Svito hits such a good deep flat ball down the middle, particularly off her forehand, that sets up balls to attack. Pegula also slipped a bit both mentally and with her game towards the end of the 2nd set and beginning of the third. Just went off the rails a bit and had too many unforced errors. But Svito at times beating her to the first strike was making Pegula feel like her first strike had to be even better, if not Svito wasn’t giving her chances. Near the end of the second Pegula’s energy dropped. I thought she was probably just getting ready for the third set and would get it back, but never really seemed to. Both players had success coming in this match but it was Svito beating Pegula to the net more times than not.
Svitolina came in this match probably more than I had ever seen her do that. She came to the net 16 times, winning 12 of those points. 12 were in the 2nd set and 3rd set, which is when she started having more success. Svitolina has proven to have good results on clay over the year, and although Swiatek’s ball is so heavy, Svito is someone who could give Iga a run for her money if she played a near perfect match. She is energetic, fearless, and plays off the crowd really well. The crowd at one point all chanting “Elina! Elina!”. Both play Czechs as Pegula will turn her focus to doubles with Coco against Muchova/Noskova, and Svitolina will get ready for another tough match with Krejcikova in the 3rd round.
Ram/Krajicek (USA) def. Popyrin/De Minaur (AUS): 6-2 6-4
A pretty dominant performance from Raj and Kraj in this one showing why they’re a favorite to bring home Gold. Former world number 1 Raj showing the Indy high school tennis in him, not shy in yelling “come on!”. He’s hype for the Olympics and the two former grand slam champions move on with with ease. They had too much experience on the doubles court, playing against two players they’ve played two doubles matches in their whole career together. Raj and Kraj broke an impressive 3 times throughout the match, not just relying on their dominant serve and net game. For De Minaur, unfortunately his leg wasn’t 100%, not having the normal push on his serve, being broken 2 of the 3 times. But his serve would be the weakest on that court today even if he was 100% healthy also.
It’s also just tough to break Ram and Krajicek, both unreal at the net and both place their serve so well. Winning over 80% of both 1st serve and 2nd serve points throughout the match. Also the different formations they are comfortable using, playing doubles all the time. There’s been some discussion about Ram and his partner on tour, Salisbury, possibly splitting, and if that happens Krajicek would be a perfect fit for Raj. Krajicek currently playing primarily with Dodig. The Americans go on and play two Brazilian singles players, Monteiro and Seyboth Wild, and will fancy their chances for sure in that one.
Danielle Collins (USA) def. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN): 6-3 3-6 6-3
At the end of the 2nd set Caroline Wozniacki only had 5 unforced errors for the match, 5! That’s the type of consistency that was to be needed from Wozniacki to cause Danielle problems. Danielle was hitting some Serena-like groundstrokes, but Woz kept doing a good job of just running each shot down and keeping it deep enough to not let Danielle attack. Danielle is a see ball hit ball player, while Woz, “she’s a runner, she’s a track star”. Since Woz was hardly missing, each point was won or lost on Danielle’s racquet. Trying to bring her explosive hard court tennis to the clay. Whether it was being aggressive right off the bat on the serve, or pouncing on Woz 2nd serve, Danielle was the one in charge. Whether she is winning or losing, she knows that is her game style and she is going to live and die by it. She never faultered. Eventually her big hitting aggressive game style paid off, continuing to go for her shots, and coming back to win in the third.
It’s interesting because what got Wozniacki back in the match in the 2nd set wasn’t a dip in Collins game. She actually stepped her game up. In the 2nd set she had 6 more winners than the first set, playing more aggressive and getting in control. And Collins had less unforced errors in the 2nd set than the first. Looking at the match you would think Collins had a dip in level in the 2nd set, but really it was Woz stepping it up. Then in the third, going back to more passive tennis. The numbers to look for in this match is Wozniacki 14 winners to 6 unforced errors, and Collin’s had 47 winners to 30 unforced errors. Her name was the one with the stat sheet littered and it eventually paid off. It’s tough for Wozniacki not having a weapon when playing against somebody like Collins. It is merely hoping they have an off day and are missing. Collins, who’s had a great year, is too good of a player to do that against. Gotta wonder, playing her best tennis of her career, will Danielle rethink retirement in pursuit of a grand slam trophy or gold medal. She says no and wants to start a family, but will that change as the finish line draws nearer.
Francisco Cerundolo (ARG) def. Ugo Humbert (FRA): 7-5, 6-7, 7-5
As expected in an Ugo Humbert match he was taking care of his serve at ease, and for most of the set was the only player who had a break point opportunity. But Cerundolo hung around in there long enough for him to see a chance and got the break at the end of the set to go up 6-5. He won 75% of his first serve points but only 50% of his 2nd serve points. Cerundolo on the other hand won 85% of his 1st serve points, and 69% of his 2nd serve points. He did have 1 double compared to Ugo’s 0 but going a bit bigger and winning 20% more of your points might be worth 1 double fault. When things get tight it’s tough to live practically only on y tv our 1st serve.
Cerundolo continuing to work and take advantage of his chances broke again to go up 2-1 in the 2nd. He won 2 of 3 BP, not giving Ugo any extra life. Ugo on the other hand was 0/2 on his BP, not ever able to get real momentum going. Sometimes the pressure of the home crowd can work against some people, feeling like they have to win even more. Others thrive off of it, but some don’t. Well in typical Ugo fashion he used the crowd and got back into the match breaking back for 5-5. Always twists and turns with Humbert. Cerundolo doesn’t mind a ruckus environment either so both players were enjoying the environment. Ugo ends up pulling out the set in a tiebreaker. Third set was filled with both players taking care of their serve. There were no BP opportunities until 6-5 in the third when Cerundolo had 1 BP and got it and that was the match. 1 point was all he needed and he got it. ¾ break points converted, playing the big points well. Ugo on the other hand ⅓ . ⅔ and maybe he wins the match, all it takes is 1 point different in first set and the break lead could’ve been his.
Ugo definitely is going to remember his first round win, at his home Olympics, forever, but wish he could’ve gotten through this. But Cerundolo, who’s favorite surface is clay, and won a title last week in Umag, is a player that could cause trouble to a top player. He was up 2 sets to 1 on Novak at this years RG before Novak came back. He plays Casper Ruud next round, a match he’ll be the underdog in, but definitely believe he can win also. That’ll be good.
Errani/Vavassori (ITA) def Andreeva/Medvedev (RUS): 6-3 6-2
The Italians used their doubles prowess to take home this title. It’s always enticing to think the two singles players are going to take the mixed doubles field by storm, but even in Grand Slams, rarely does that happen. Vavasorri had a great singles result earlier today taking Casper Ruud to three sets so he came into the match with a lot of confidence. Sara Errani also won Roland Garros doubles this year so she clearly is comfortable playing their. Sometimes it can be hard to return a serve like Errani’s also. Not much pace to it, and coming from a low angle and staying low.
Especially on the men’s circuit they don’t see something like that too often, but Mirra doesn’t see that either. She can be frustrating to play against, with her lobs, funky game, and spirited mentality. You could tell Medvedev and Andreeva have a good relationship, but I am sure they would’ve had a much better time if they were able to pick up the win. They held serve in their first few service games but after that it was really not too competitive. They got their first break point down 0-3 in the second set, but faced break points in every service game they had along the way. Nonetheless, an experience both will remember forever, playing an Olympic Games.
