The Games never disappoint. Their capacity to generate great moments is almost inexhaustible. They are not always necessarily related to the importance of what is at stake, nor do they need to involve a compatriot directly. All that is needed is for a series of circumstances to occur that result in an emotional outburst. Some you can foresee, others take you by surprise. These are the best.
It was ten o’clock on Tuesday night and I was already well supplied with sports at that time. But who can resist a last zap just in case? I stumbled upon a men’s doubles tennis match, a Great Britain – Belgium match that was absolutely expendable. When I was about to turn off the television, I noticed that one of the British players looked familiar. And so it was. It was Andy Murray.
While Nadal’s future remains uncertain, Murray’s future is beyond doubt. The curtain is drawn this week in Paris. Knowing that this match against two unknown Belgians could be the epilogue to the career of an extraordinary tennis player who has been hampered by injuries, I decided to stay. A wise choice.
After winning the first set, things became more complicated for Murray and his partner Evans. The second set was decided in a tie-breakerwhich ended in a carousel of agonizing match points for some, set points for others. 10-8 for the Belgians and we’re off to the supermarket. tie-breakerThe crowd was already in a frenzy by then. Every point unleashed a loud explosion and the climax was reached when Gille and Vliegen, the Belgian duo, had two match points (9-7). Murray’s career was practically over.
But no. The fates dictated that the time had not come, at least that night and playing a round of 16. In a twist that drove the crowd to delirium, and why not admit it, myself (I ended up celebrating each point of Andy as if my son was playing), the British saved the two match points and then added two more to close the match. What jumps, what happy faces, what exciting hugs! But wait, what would be my surprise when I tracked Murray a little and found out that in his previous match against a Japanese pair, they had saved 5 match points in a row!!! in the super tie-breakerto end up safe and sound. Come on, I wouldn’t miss their next game for anything in the world.
Survivors aside, today has not been a good day for the Spanish delegation. And look how well it started with the basketball girls, who for the second time won a game that was more lost than Murray’s. This time the heroine was Laura Gil, with a rebound and two free throws with the clock almost at zero. I am infinitely happy as I remember something I wrote in the Tokyo 2020 diary. It was titled Laura Gil on the bonfire. It turns out that Spain had been eliminated in the quarterfinals by France and Laura made a couple of mistakes in the last plays. She got the short end of the stick, especially on social media. I hope that all those who put her down now have a moment to praise a player who may not be very aesthetic but is worth her weight in gold.
From there, a few chances of success have gone down the drain. On the judo tatami or in the white waters of canoeing. The most painful was in the Olympic pit, where we had two finalists out of six (Fátima Gálvez and Mar Molné) with the best score up to the final. It has been a nightmare from start to finish. Fátima started horribly and Mar has gone from better to worse. In short, both fourth and fifth, the most frustrating positions in the games. It has struck me that a specialty that requires extreme concentration is contested in such a jubilant atmosphere. Applause, music, people moving from one side to the other… I read later that Gálvez has complained that men are not treated like this. If it is true, which I do not doubt, then welcome the claim. There will not be a better time for another four years.
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