Paris (From our reporter) – The Americans flew into the match with a clean game, immediately after Macháč’s serve they won three break points, but the Czechs were able to fend them off. However, with Pavlásk’s submission, Fritz and Paul already succeeded and got into the blockbuster. The Americans were – perhaps with the exception of the seventh game – almost faultless on the serve, they played patiently and precisely from the baseline, “cutting” even uncompromising volleys. On the other hand, the Czechs, especially at the beginning, made too many mistakes, which is why the American couple won the first set 6:3 after half an hour.
However, the end of the set showed that it might not be a completely hopeless match from the Czech side.
But the second started with a broken Macháč serve, which proved to be key in the further course. When the Czechs got “angry” during the service of the Americans, they immediately helped themselves with an uncompromising serve, just like in the final set.
“I’d rather lose in round 1 than have a potato here and be close to bronze. But it had to be left to someone. But if you had told me as a boy that I would play at the Olympics for a medal, I would have knocked myself on the forehead, because it is the dream of every little athlete,” said Adam Pavlásek. “It’s a strange mix of emotions, there were a lot of twists and turns here in Paris. Anyway, I need to absorb the eight or nine days I spent here,” added Macháč.
The independent Czech Republic has been waiting for an Olympic medal in the men’s doubles for a long time, so far only Miloslav Mečíř and Milan Šrejber, who won bronze for Czechoslovakia in Seoul, succeeded in five circles in 1988.
But it is a success and maybe even a solid hope for matches in the Davis Cup. After all, two years ago, Pavlásek was hovering around the sixth hundred of the world rankings and was considering ending his professional career at the age of 27. But in the end, he only cut the singles matches and threw himself fully into the doubles. “As time goes on, it’s becoming increasingly clear that it was a good decision. In singles I felt that I had already burned out, doubles brought me back joy and saved my sports career. Sometimes I think that I should have done it earlier,” Pavlásek said earlier.
He paid for great tennis talent, but due to injuries he could never fulfill his potential.
He had Macháč by his side a few times in the Davis Cup, and for example in February after the duel with the Israelis, the younger of the duo said: “I no longer feel like a complete amateur in doubles.”
After all, he proved that the pairs discipline is good for him on Friday with a golden triumph with Kateřina Siniaková. Pavlásek is a mentor and advisor on the court. “However, I don’t want to interfere in his affairs, I just sometimes try to guide him, for example if he tries a lob or another nipple. He can play incredible balls, so I give him freedom,” admitted Pavlásek. “It’s nice to have a partner next to you who can return, because then we can break the opponent at any time, which helps us a lot.”
They are sad now, but they can still go on to win big.
However, women’s doubles Karolína Muchová and Linda Nosková can still win the bronze in Paris, who will play for it on Sunday at noon.
