NEW DELHI: The Olympic tennis draws announced on Thursday threw up interesting match-ups for the events starting on Saturday.
Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna drew Poland’s Lukasz Kubot and Marcin Matkowski as their first round opponents. Sania Mirza and Prarthana Thombare will take on China’s Peng Shuai and Zhang Shuai in their opener. The men’s doubles match is scheduled for Saturday while the women’s opener is on Monday.
“It’s a very tough draw,” admitted Paes. “Rohan and I have to put our best foot forward, no doubt.” Paes, who will become the first Indian and tennis player to play in his seventh Olympics, is currently ranked 55. Partner Bopanna is 15.
Bopanna and Paes don’t play together on the Tour and lack chemistry, which is important in doubles. They got together for the Davis Cup tie against South Korea last month in Chandigarh to seal the contest but their record as a pair stands at 2-2.
Unlike their Indian counterparts, Kubot (No 25) and Matkowski (No 27) have played as a pair this season and even reached the final of the Estoril Open in Portugal. It will be interesting as Paes has partnered both Kubot and Matkowski on the Tour. So, the 18-time Major champion’s inputs will be important on Saturday.
Matkowski and Paes had even won a tournament in Malaysia three years ago and reached the quarters at Roland Garros this year. He had partnered Kubot extensively last season. Bopanna and regular partner Florin Mergea of Romania had defeated the Polish pair this season at Rotterdam in a closely fought encounter.
{{/usCountry}}Matkowski and Paes had even won a tournament in Malaysia three years ago and reached the quarters at Roland Garros this year. He had partnered Kubot extensively last season. Bopanna and regular partner Florin Mergea of Romania had defeated the Polish pair this season at Rotterdam in a closely fought encounter.
{{/usCountry}}If Paes and Bopanna manage to find early rhythm and get the better of the Polish pair, they run into the winners of Czech Republic (Radek Stepanek/Lukas Rosol) and Spain (David Ferrer/Roberto Bautista Agut) in the next round.
Sania is the world No 1 in doubles. Pairing with Thombare, they too will find it tough. Zhang recently had a fairytale run in the Australian Open singles where she made the quarters while Peng has won two doubles Slams. Sania and Prarthana had won the bronze in the Incheon Asian Games, but the Rio path will be anything but easy.
NOVAK VS DEL POTRO
In a re-match of the London 2012 bronze medal playoff, world No 1 Novak Djokovic will face Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro in the singles opener. The Serb has an 11-3 advantage but in London, Del Potro halted Djokovic from winning a medal. Serena Williams plays Aussie Daria Gavrilova.