OLYMPIC GAMES BY CP
Dan and Andy – That was Dandy
Dan and Andy (Dandy) were still hanging on to the hope of a glorious farewell for Andy, but first there was another intriguing match, pitting the dream Spanish pairing of Rafa Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz (Nadalcaraz) against their best opponents yet, the high-ranking American pair Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram. The Americans’ vast experience in doubles gave them a big advantage, which they put to good use in a straight sets victory. So Rafa can have a rest, but Alcaraz has set his sights on winning the Olympic singles title. He is one of the quarter-finalists, among which the only surprise is Felix Auger-Aliassime, conqueror of Daniil Medvedev. Felix A-A then beat Casper Rudd to set up a semi-final match with Carlos Alcaraz. The other semi-final will be between Novak Djokovic and Lorenzo Musetti. In among these matches Andy Murray finally did say his farewells after he and Dan Evans were soundly beaten by the talented American pairing of Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul. It looked a lost cause and that’s what it was. And when it was over, a long salute to the crowd, a few balls to sign and that was that. The shock of the afternoon was the defeat of the mighty Iga Swiatek by the Chinese Quinwen Zheng, who would go on to beat Donna Vekic in the final. in his bid to become the youngest ever Olympic champion Alcaraz lost little time in disposing of Felix A-A 6-1 6-1. In the final he will meet Djokovic in a repeat of several meetings, the most recent being the Wimbledon final. The crowds who lined the streets in and around Paris to watch the men’s road race saw a fine victory for Remco Evenenepol, so well in command in the later stages that he was able to take a puncture in his stride. The Belgian was the first to complete the big Olympic double, having won the Tine Trial a few days earlier. The men’s tennis final was bound to set a record, for either the oldest or the youngest winner. And it was the former, with Djokovic winning a close, tense match in two tie breaks. Bye bye. CP