Paris (From our reporter) – It was another proof of how the super tiebreak, which is played instead of the third set in doubles matches, generally works out for the Czechs in Paris. They got into it seven times and won seven times.
At exactly 21:34, the spectacle began on the majestic Philippe Chartier court. At the beginning, both pairs scored a clean game on their own serve, and they held their serve in the next round as well. However, in the fifth game, the Czechs managed to break Čang’s serve, then captured the next three games and brought the first set to a winning end after 23 minutes. The Czechs were almost flawless from the baseline and confident at the net, so at the break the Chinese disappeared into the dressing room for a few minutes to try to change something.
It was suddenly a more exciting battle. The pairs did not let go of the service, the audience came alive. Then in the sixth game, when Siniak made two important volleys at the net, there was an encouraging shout from the players’ box: “You’re playing well!” The wonderful scrimmage – worthy of an Olympic final – continued. Only at 5:6 – from the Czech point of view at the least appropriate moment – did Siniaková lose her serve and the Czechs the entire set after a fight.
And so came the super tiebreak, which had to crack everything. The Chinese took the lead 3:0, but the Czechs caught up. Siniak did make a double fault, but then she cut out two wonderful balls. The Chinese rebounded to 8:6, but Čang was unable to serve and Siniaková and Macháč turned the match perfectly. It was 22:50 and they were Olympic champions.
“I don’t feel any nerves in the match because they always have to pass the ball to the other side and not think. That’s why I like these tense moments. In the end, we played amazingly, we scored all the winning balls. It is really difficult to win the gold 10:8 in a tie break, it will probably take some time for us,” said Macháč.
They hugged each other after the game, they were overcome with crying and tears on the stage during the national anthem.
“I was very happy. I didn’t expect it to be so emotional. I managed to win the Olympics for the second time. With tennis, you don’t hear the national anthem at all, so this is an unforgettable experience. I guess it all got to me that the gold was repeated. It’s a beautiful feeling,” said Siniaková.
They have been a couple for a long time in private life, but last week Siniaková officially confirmed the breakup. But on the court and behind the scenes, the 28-year-old tennis player and the 23-year-old tennis player act like friends, it’s not just a professional relationship. During the interviews, they tease each other, point each other out. “It’s interesting that he’s a showman on the court, but he doesn’t socialize at all. But she acts like a little girl on the court,” said Siniaková about Macháč.
Siniaková is a seasoned doubles player, she has won nine Grand Slams, this year she won the French Open and Wimbledon, each side by side with a different partner, the Americans Coco Gauff and Taylor Townsend. When asked what her greatest strength is, she replies: “Probably in net reflexes. I have a good overview there, I can play angles that are sometimes unexpected.”
Kateřina Siniaková, two-time Olympic champion and winner of nine Grand Slams
In the words of the classic: “Ladies and gentlemen, I don’t want to touch you, but which one of you has it?” pic.twitter.com/yVLOha4543
— Robert Sára (@RobertSara_26) August 2, 2024
Macháč is in the doubles, despite the fact that he still has an attack on the bronze medal in the men’s doubles with his partner Pavlásek, a bit of a novice. He avoided him for a long time, until he teamed up with the Chinese Chang – yes, his final opponent – and came to like this discipline as well. “Before, I wanted to win in the singles and I thought about it a lot. But Chang and I take the court completely relaxed. We also want to win, but there is a sense of well-being between us, thanks to which I started to enjoy the doubles.”
He himself tells how big the difference is between doubles and singles, whether it is returns, services or net play. And how it helps him improve.
Now he also helped him to be able to boast the title of Olympic champion. And who knows, maybe he will add a bronze to it on Saturday.
Muchová and Nosková did not advance to the final
And there can be even more Czech tennis medals. Karolína Muchová and Linda Nosková did not advance to the doubles final, but after today’s semi-final defeat to the Italians Sara Errani and Jasmine Paoliniová 3:6, 2:6 they will play for bronze. Their opponents will be the Spaniards Sara Sorribesová and Cristina Bucsaová, who lost to the Russians in neutral colors Mirra Andrejevová and Diana Šnajderová 1:6, 2:6.
Muchová and Nosková got together in Paris after the injured Markéta Vondroušová withdrew. They reached the semi-finals after three hard-fought wins, each time they turned the duels around and succeeded in a super tie-break. However, Errani and Paolini did not reverse the unfavorable development against the seeded threes. Suzanne Lenglen lost the clay court match in 68 minutes.
The representatives, who remained the last Czech representatives in the women’s doubles after the failure of the reigning champions Barbora Krejčíková and Kateřina Siniaková in the quarterfinals, did not convert even one of the three break points. This year’s Roland Garros finalists Errani and Paolini, on the other hand, used all three opportunities to break the Česk’s serve.
The Czech players only lost the first set at the end, they lost the eighth game on the serve of Muchová. Also in the second set, Erraniová and Paoliniová won breaks on the serve of last year’s Roland Garros finalist. First they succeeded in the third and then in the seventh game.
The Czechs tried to avoid the loss and had only three break points in the match at 2:5. But the 40:0 lead did not reach the gamut and Errani served the duel to advance.
XXXIII. Summer Olympic Games in Paris: Tennis: Mixed doubles: Final: Siniaková, Macháč (Czech Republic) – Wang Sin-yu, Zhang Zhichen (China) 6:2, 5:7, 10:8. Women: Doubles: Semifinal :Erraniová, Paoliniová (3-It.) – Muchová, Nosková (CZ) 6:3, 6:2
