Olympic double visions: Croatia? France? Or even Kazakhstan?
In a few weeks, Tokyo will be all about Olympic gold in the men's doubles. Which nation can have the highest hopes? We did a quick check once.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Jun 13, 2021, 10:28 am
Yes, at the MercedesCup in Stuttgart, too, the 2021 Olympic Games cast their shadows: Félix Auger-Aliassime, for example, once again affirmed that he would definitely go to Tokyo. Yannick Hanfmann, on the other hand, had to admit after his defeat to Ugo Humbert that the five Olympic rings would have to do without him. And there is also Marin Cilic. He doesn't just seem to be slowly back on the way to old strength in singles, no, the 2014 US Open champion also competed in doubles. With compatriot Ivan Dodig the end came in the semifinals, but Cilic / Dodig should possibly be on the slip in Tokyo.
The good news for Croatian tennis fans: With Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic there is an even better chance of a gold medal. The best couple of the year had to suspend the French Open due to positive COVID tests. With all the dominance that Mektic / Pavic have conjured up on the courts this season, this was already the second setback in terms of Grand Slam tournaments. It wasn't enough to win the Australian Open either. So in Tokyo then?
Herbert and Mahut win in Paris
Not so fast, say the French. Not least since yesterday Saturday, when Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut won their second title in Roland Garros. And the Grande Nation could also enter the Olympics with two promising couples, after all, with Edouard Roger-Vasselin, at least one other promising candidate is available.
The Kazakhs have been new to the mix since the French Open. Alexander Bublik and Andrey Golubev were a won service game Bublik was away from making Kazakh sports history. It shouldn't be whole. The “crazy” Bublik (quote from Pierre-Hugues Herbert after the final) can do anything.
Is Rafael Nadal playing? And with whom?
And otherwise? Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov will play together in Halle in the coming week (and individually against each other). Olympia sends its regards here, as well as with the Dutch duo Wesley Koolhof and Jean-Julien Rojer. And who knows: maybe the Tsitsipas brothers will get off to a good start in Tokyo.
The German options are still open: Tim Pütz is currently offering a lot, but alongside Hugo Nys. Kevin Krawietz will also serve in Halle with Horia Tecau, Jan-Lennard Struff with Dustin Brown. And Alexander Zverev treats himself to a double break after Roland Garros' efforts.
But the big question: What are the defending champions doing? In 2016 in Rio des Janeiro, Rafael Nadal and Marc Lopez won gold. In the last few days, Nadal didn't sound so sure whether he wanted to go to Tokyo at all. If so, Marcel Granollers is more likely a possible partner.