Tokyo 2020 Summer Games stadium announcer Andy Taylor recaps Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic’s Gold Medal victory over Davis Cup teammates Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig. Not only was it a tremendous championship match, both teams made history, becoming the first tennis players from Croatia to capture Gold and Silver.
- 2021 DOUBLES GOLD: Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic
- 2021 DOUBLES SILVER: Maric Cilic and Ivan Dodig
- 2004 DOUBLES BRONZE: Mario Ancic and Ivan Ljubicic
- 1992 SINGLES BRONZE: Goran Ivanisevic
- 1992 DOUBLES BRONZE: Goran Ivanisevic and Goran Prpic
In Japan, the live narration includes two voices: Japanese announcer DJ Ketchup and English announcer Andy Taylor. Together, they cover the presentation on Center Court, while additional Japanese and English speaking announcers cover Courts 1 and 2 at Ariake Tennis Park.
An historic Men’s Doubles Gold Medal Match
Since the modern Olympic Games began, the nation of Croatia has captured three Olympic medals in Tennis. Doubles Bronze in 1992 and 2004, and Singles Bronze in 1992. Tonight, for the first time, Croatia will stand atop the podium as Olympic Gold and Silver medalists.
[1] Nikola Mektic -02- (CRO) and Mate Pavic -01- (CRO) | Gold Medal Announcer Introduction
2018 Davis Cup Champions, this tandem finally joined forces full-time at the start of the year – and in just 7-months, captured 8 Doubles titles together, including their first Major earlier this month at Wimbledon. Now on a 13 match win-streak, they are through to the Gold Medal match in their Olympic Games debut. Representing Croatia, the top two Doubles players in the world, Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic.
- FF — W — Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig (CRO) | Score: 6-4, 3-6 [10-6]
- SF — W — Tennys Sandgren and Austin Krajicek (USA) | Score: 6-4, 6-4 | COURT-3
- QF — W — Kei Nishikori and Ben McLachlan (JPN) | Score: 6-3, 6-3 | RECAP
- R2 — W — Lorenzo Sonego and Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) | Score: 7-5, 6-7(5) [10-7] | COURT-4
- R1 — W — Marcelo Melo and Marcelo Demoliner (BRA) | Score: 7-6(6), 6-4 | COURT-10
Maric Cilic and Ivan Dodig (CRO) | Gold Medal Announcer Introduction
Davis Cup Champions in 2018, their biggest victories together have come while representing their country. In 2016, they went undefeated – including an upset over legends Bob and Mike Bryan – and lifted Croatia to its first Davis Cup Final in 11-years. Quarterfinalists at the Summer Games in London – tonight, they compete for Olympic Gold. Representing Croatia, Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig.
- FF — L — [1] Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic | Score: 4-6, 6-3 [6-10]
- SF — W — Michael Venus and Marcus Daniell (NZL) | Score: 6-2, 6-2 | COURT-2
- QF — W — Joe Salisbury and Andy Murray (GBR) | Score: 4-6, 7-6(2) [10-7] | COURT-5
- R2 — W — Rajeev Ram and Frances Tiafoe (USA) | Score: 6-3, 7-5 | COURT-3
- R1 — W — Yoshihito Nishioka and Taro Daniel (JPN) | Score: 6-2, 6-4 | COURT-5
SUMMER GAMES | Men’s Doubles Medalists
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Amid COVID concern, the Games go on
Postponed for a year due to the global coronavirus pandemic, the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games finally launched on Friday, 23 July 2021. After 18-months of lockdowns, desperately trying to contain COVID’s insidious spread, the world finally developed effective vaccines. Sadly, though, 4-million lost their lives, while over 193-million contracted the virus. And Tokyo’s case count was on the rise.
But thanks to science and nearly 2-years of experience, organizers understood that it was entirely possible to responsibly stage the Summer Games without creating a super-spreader event. No fans allowed. Tickets revoked. All international visitors barred from the country – unless competing or working.
From the athlete, to the volunteer, to the Japanese announcer and English announcer — everyone involved with the Games exercised the procedures and protocols painstakingly learned through 18-months of uncertainty and despair. Quarantines. Life in bubbles. Regular hand-hygiene. Masks. Limited long-term indoor exposure to others. And of course, social distancing. But above all else: Most of the Tokyo 2020 team was vaccinated.
Come hell or high water, the Summer Games would go on.
Naomi Osaka ignites the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Cauldron
On a more positive note, one of the most distinguished honors in all of sport is to light the Olympic cauldron. Any American over 40 remembers the emotional moment in 1996 when Muhammed Ali courageously climbed the steps to light the flame in Atlanta. His body ravaged by Parkinson’s disease. That singular moment creates indelible memories.
This year, the Japanese Olympic Committee secretly bestowed the honor to 23-year-old Naomi Osaka. Originally scheduled to play the first match on Center Court Saturday morning, it was unusual on Friday to hear that her match had been moved to Sunday. Nothing further was said.
Then, at the conclusion of a subdued, yet deeply respectful opening ceremony and parade of nations – it was Naomi Osaka who climbed the steps and torched the flame that brightly burned over the Games of the 32nd Olympiad. Obviously, it was a humbling honor not lost on the 4-time Grand Slam Champion, who was making her Olympic debut.
Well represented during the parade of nations, tennis players Petra Kvitova (CZE), Jelena Ostapenko (LAT), and Veronica Cepede Royg (PAR) all served as flag-bearers.
Tennis at the Summer Games
One of the premier sports featured during the Games’ initial revival, tennis still has a contentious history with the Summer Games. It fell off the radar after 1924, mainly due to conflicts between the International Lawn Tennis Federation and the IOC. The two major obstacles:
- Allowing professionals to compete in a global showcase for amature athletics.
- Scheduling. With the Summer Games so close to the conclusion of the Wimbledon Championships, the ILTF and the IOC were in direct competition for tournament participation by the sport’s top-athletes.
After a 60 year absence, tennis and the IOC worked out their differences, and the sport returned as an official event during the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul. Now under the guidance of the International Tennis Federation, professionals proudly represent their home nations.
