RIO DE JANEIRO -- Rafael Nadal was something to behold during his third-round singles match on a windswept Thursday at Olympic Centre Court.True, he flashed plenty of raggedness. No surprise there, given that injuries and self-doubt have recently stunted his play.But mixed amid a stream of unforced errors in a 7-6 (5), 6-4 win against Frances Gilles Simon were enough vibrant glimpses of vintage Nadal to widen the eyes. There were stirring side-to-side dashes. There were buzz-saw forehands that looked sure to sail three feet long only to crash down, suddenly and violently, straight into play.Same as always, the 30-year-old Spaniards intensity filled the stadium. He looked like he would chew off an arm if it meant giving himself a better chance to win. It was no surprise then, when, after the match, he said in his brief comments that he would fight to the death for a medal.Nadal, of course, is as tough a competitor as weve ever seen in any sport. He didnt need to play here. He already has a singles gold medal, from Beijing in 2008. A wrist injury caused him to miss the 2016 Wimbledon after he pulled out of his beloved French Open. And yet here he is, on the brink of a performance that would significantly gild his legend. Two more golds are a possibility in Rio. He followed the Simon match by winning in the semifinals of doubles with partner Marc Lopez. (Nadal then pulled out of the first round of mixed doubles with Garbine Muguruza.)?But if Nadal at the 2016 Rio Games underscores his dogged competitiveness, it is also a potent reminder of something missing. Or, rather, someone: Roger Federer.Martina had Chris. McEnroe had Borg. Agassi had Sampras. Since they first played in 2003, Nadal has always had Federer. Both, no doubt, have lost a step. Other rivalries have begun. But no matchups have defined mens tennis in its current form like the tense battles waged when the two greats faced off in their best days. At Wimbledon in 2008, they played five scintillating sets that finished with the dusky All England Club reveling in, arguably, the greatest match in tennis history.Ah, what fun these two could have had, playing in front of the electric crowds in Rio.Only Federer is nowhere to be seen. As far back as 2012, he was saying hed play at least long enough to take the court in Brazil. Then 2016 came, and with it a knee surgery and a balky back and birthday No. 35. After losing gamely in the Wimbledon semifinals last month, Federer shut down his entire 2016 season to heal up. The closest he came to Rio was a lonely tweet -- Wish I was there with you -- typed from some undisclosed location during the Games opening ceremonies.Sadly, opportunities like this -- the Spaniard and the Swiss duking it out with the whole world watching -- might not come again. There was a period when Nadal and Federer, despite never playing each other in the Olympics, averaged four or five matchups every year. (Nadal owns a commanding 23-11 head-to-head record, in good part because prime Federer was often good enough to make it to the finals of the clay tournaments where Nadal reigned.)But they have played less and less with the passing of each season. There was just one match in 2014, a Nadal victory at the Australian Open. Then a single match in 2015, Federer winning in Basil. 2016 will end without them playing at all. Ugh.If Federer were here, they could have been closing in on a Rio showdown. Given the way their careers have been trending, and paying a nod to the strength-sapping march of time, it just might have been their last great match.Still, there is what might have been, and there is the plain reality of the moment. Upsets and the Federer no-show have turned the tennis star power in Rio down a notch, but well-known players such as Nadal and Juan Martin del Potro remain, and theyll be challenged in the closing days by the likes of Americans Madison Keys and Steve Johnson, who both advanced in singles Thursday.The Olympic tournament is proving to be memorable, full of great play and stands brimming with rhythmic chants, stomping feet and flag-waving national pride. That kind of atmosphere was on full display Thursday afternoon, when Andy Murray beat back stubborn 40th-ranked Italian Fabio Fognini, digging out of the 3-0 third-set hole by winning the last six games.Both have a few matches to go, but Murray and Nadal are now favored to meet in the final. That would be the 2008 gold medal holder against the 2012 champion, a wonderful and attractive match, perhaps as good as any that will be played this year.But it wouldnt be Federer versus Nadal. Pink Adidas NMD 2018 .com) - The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks both take aim at their first wins of the season on Saturday, as the Canucks open their home slate at Rogers Arena. Green Adidas NMD 2018 Store . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. http://www.cheapadidasnmdfromchinaonline.com/ . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. Purple Adidas NMD 2018 Sale . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Blue 2018 Adidas NMD Outlet . Denis Coderre, the former federal MP who was elected mayor on Nov. 3, has drawn the ire of some Montreal Canadiens. During last nights game he tweeted: "Hello? Can we get a one-way ticket to (minor-league) Hamilton for David Desharnais please. PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Tim Tebow may have had his best day as a New York Mets prospect.The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL quarterback had two hits, scored a run and ended a three-inning game with a sliding grab Tuesday in his final tuneup before his instructional league debut. He is to play Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals instructional club.I feel like every day Im getting a little more comfortable, said Tebow, who singled in his last two at-bats of the simulated game. Its great just to see live pitching and get live at-bats. Im just getting a little bit better every day. Thats the goal.The first week of camp had more the feel of a circus. Tebow, the first sophomore to win the Heisman, was on display with new teammates, new surroundings and playing a sport he had not competed in since high school.His work last week with the instructional staff paid dividends Tuesday. Facing highly regarded Mets prospect Marcos Molina, Tebow struck out swinging on four pitches in the first inning.In the second, he looped a single to shallow center, the ball barely eluding diving shortstop Hansel Moreno, delighting the couple of hundred fans on hand. While attempting to steal, Tebow scored when the ball was batted into play and Moreno committed a throwing error on a force play at second.Tebow followed in the third inning with a sharp sinngle through the left side on a 93 mph fastball from Cameron Planck.ddddddddddddI just tried to take it where it was pitched, he said.Tebow played left field, and in the second inning charged hard on Morenos fly but failed to get close enough as the ball landed foul.I honestly try to (go after) everything pretty hard and try to stay intense. Hopefully, thats something I can bring to this game and these young kids, he said. Everything you do, just do it with an intense amount of focus and effort.On the games final out, a drive in the gap, he backhanded the ball for his second putout of the day.You try to get on your horse and go run it down and do what you can do to make the catch, he said.As for his professional debut, Tebow wants to keep things simple.You prepare for it the same way you prepared for today, he said. You dont want to change anything. You dont want a game day to be any bigger than any other day. Consistency is the key. Just make the next day a little bit better.Wednesday will be different -- a full game against pitchers he hasnt seen.It will be fun to suit and get to play a different team and compete, Tebow said. But I think weve been competing every day. Its one more day and one more opportunity. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '