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- Olympic Edition
Good morning. Just a heads up, I’ll be away for a little, so you won’t get editions for the next two weeks. With the greatest athletes on planet Earth competing every day right now, there’s plenty of great stories. See you on the flip side ✌🏽
— Daniel
Olympics Part 1
The final battle
X/ITF
If the rivalry between Rafael Nadal & Novak Djokovic were the Harry Potter series, we’d have just finished the 7th book. The pair played their 60th and likely final match against each other this week at the Olympics, bringing one of tennis’ most epic rivalries to a close.
Lacking both strength and foot speed, Nadal struggled to cause problems for the Djoker, losing 6-1, 6-4. And if it didn’t sting enough, the loss came on Philippe-Chatrier, the court where he won 14 Roland Garros titles. That said, Nadal still has a chance to get on the podium. He has teamed up with Carlos Alcaraz, appropriately named “Nadalcaraz”, in the Men’s Doubles draw.
For Djokovic, the victory cemented his winning record over his greatest rival, 31-29, and pushed him one step further to capturing Olympic gold for the first time.
I can hear already hear the, “bro, Nadal vs. Djokovic was a mooovie” from a kid who grew up in LA in a few years. And of course, I’ll have to agree. They were the only 5 hour movies that millions of people would watch together.
Trivia
Since tennis returned to the Olympics as a medal sport in 1988, which player has won the most medals?
A. Venus Williams
B. Andy Murray
C. Serena Williams
D. Rafael Nadal
Find out at the bottom!
Olympics Part 2
Put it on the fridge
X/Billie Jean King with Snoop Dogg
Nothing to see here, just a Long Beach Polytechnic alumni networking event in Paris.
Around the Net
More News, Memes and Throwbacks
🧼 Finally you can go to bed smelling like a fresh can of balls with Method’s new body wash. It’s one of those products that has me thinking, “why didn’t I come up with that?”
🇬🇧 Survive and advance. Dan Evans brought Andy Murray back from the brink of retirement over the weekend. The pair stormed back from 4-9 in the third set tiebreak against Japan’s Taro Daniel and Kei Nishikori to extend Murray’s career.
😢 3 time major champion and former world No. 1 Angelique Kerber said that the Olympics will be the final tournament of her career.
💔 Holger Rune announced on Instagram that he has parted ways with Patrick Mouratoglou for a second time.
🎤 The NBA has done an incredible job bringing fans closer to their favorite players by giving them mics. If that’s unfamiliar, check this out. Now that’s coming to tennis, as The Mubadala Citi DC Open plans to give some ATP doubles teams mics on court in a new pilot program. Better get the swear jar out.
🪪 I’m not much of a knick knacks or memorabilia collector, but I want this pin of Snoop Dogg puffing up the Olympic rings that Coco Gauff got.
🍯 Alcaraz has got that Winnie the Pooh drip
Thanks for reading!
DP 🤠
ps - if you enjoyed this newsletter, share it with a friend or encourage them to subscribe! It would mean a ton 🙏🏼
Answer
A. Venus Williams holds the record at 5 Olympic gold medals. Four gold and one silver
Getty Images
The Beautiful Game
Mürren, Switzerland
Getty Images
At over 5,000 feet above sea level, keeping the ball in on these courts in the the Swiss Alps is probably pretty hard. Swing fast 🫡
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