Rafael Nadal To Play Olympics Doubles With Marc Lopez And Mixed With Garbine Muguruza?

Good luck Champ.
3 Golds will do nicely!

June 16th, 2016 at 11:06 am

^^^
👍👏🏿💪🏾

June 16th, 2016 at 11:08 am

I guess Feliciano Lopez must have decided not to go to Rio. He’s the 4th ranked Spanish man in singles so he would have made the team, and he is Marc Lopez’s current doubles partner on tour.

For Rafa, that seems like a heavy load considering his wrist. I would think he stands a better chance for success playing men’s doubles with Marc Lopez (they have won tournaments together) than mixed doubles with Muguruza, so if he drops something it is likely to be the mixed.

June 16th, 2016 at 11:11 am

RZ, I was wondering the same thing about Feliciano. I can’t help but wonder what would make him miss the Olympics

June 16th, 2016 at 1:37 pm

@Pamela – several top players are skipping the Olympics. The reasons vary but seem to include the zika virus, no prize money at the Olympics, no ranking points, and strife with their federations. I don’t know which or if any of these apply to Feli.

June 16th, 2016 at 3:17 pm

Looking forward to the Olympics and having Rafa back, with it been HCs i doubt his chances of another singles gold, but so what he already has one, but i think he has a chance of a doubles, or mixed doubles medal though instead ….

June 16th, 2016 at 3:57 pm

RZ – I don’t understand it either. Tennis had become a marquee Olympic event by the late 90s, enormously popular, nations having several tennis players be their flagbearers. Peaking in London with the Andy-Federer Final. But then, for Brazil’s Games – the tennis organizing bodies and national federations backed off in supporting and promoting the sport via it’s greatest global showcase. No points, no money, a jammed in Tour schedule, politics by Olympic Committees.

June 16th, 2016 at 5:54 pm

Both Nadal and Federer have confirmed they will play all categories at Rio (Singles, Doubles, Mixed). Anybody needing proof please holler.

June 16th, 2016 at 6:20 pm

John Isner is not playing for the USA just like Lopez is not playing for Spain. It is all about points and money. Also the schedule for the summer is jam packed for tennis players. Plenty of players are skipping the Olympics.

June 16th, 2016 at 6:48 pm

Rafa/Garbine = Team Cuteness.

Hope Rafa is fit and ready to compete at the highest level. I don’t think he would have signed up for 3 genres if his doctor didn’t think he was fit enough. Keeping my fingers crossed that he does make it. Can’t wait to see him as the Spanish flag bearer AND playing his scintillating tennis which his legion of fans have missed so much.

June 17th, 2016 at 5:30 am

Willow, why do you doubt Rafa’s chances on h/c at the Olympics when he won Gold on it in 2008, the only time he competed at the Olympic Games.

June 17th, 2016 at 5:34 am

https://twitter.com/andrewprochnow/status/743600213470883840
Vamos Rafa!

June 17th, 2016 at 7:06 am

Senorita i think hes a very different player now to what he was then, and there are better HC players now, im sorry to say, however Rafa being Rafa nothing would surprise me, and ill be delighted to be proved wrong, and unlike the tiresome know it alls here, i dont state my opinion as a bona fide fact ….

June 17th, 2016 at 11:55 am

Seniorita – “why do you doubt Rafa’s chances on h/c at the Olympics when he won Gold on it in 2008, the only time he competed at the Olympic Games.”

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One of the nicer hidden gems in the Djkovic-Nadal rivalry was the Olympics 2008 semi between the two. Which, like 2013’s French Open semi, was essentially the Final. Tight 1st set, Djokovic destroyed Rafa in the 2nd and looked the better player in the early part of the 3rd. Then Rafa took his defense to another level, and Novak couldn’t hit through anymore and came to net. And didn’t play well there. At 5-4 Nadal, Djokovic couldn’t serve his way out of trouble with his then average serve. Saved 1 match point, had AD, but Rafa won 2 points. Then on 2nd match point, a thrilling one, Djokovic hit a pussy smash from mid court Nadal ran down and lobbed back, and 3 feet from the net, Djokovic hit his 2nd bad Djokosmash in a row, this one out.

But that was eight years ago. Much has changed.

June 18th, 2016 at 1:59 am

This thread was supposed to have been about Rafa and the Olympics, yet some posters always steer the conversation around to their favorite lol, anyway for what its worth there was some superb tennis played at the 2008 Olympics, Gonzo won silver (miss him), and Novak won bronze, would love a DVD to watch it all again, hate that 2013 FO semi though, and would prefer to forget it, although some dredge it up ad nauseum, the match was tainted, much like Maradona with the world cup handball ….

June 18th, 2016 at 5:38 am

And it still comes down to indirect sly digs about Rafa been lucky in this match, or that match, and Novak been unlucky and his level dropping ….

June 18th, 2016 at 5:41 am