Olympic medal rounds preview and predictions: Murray vs. Del Potro, Nadal vs. Nishikori

August 14, 2016 Ricky Match previews 189

Olympic gold in men’s singles at the 2016 Rio Olympics is all coming down to Andy Murray vs. Juan Martin Del Potro on Sunday. Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal and Kei Nishikori will be squaring off for the final spot on the podium.

Juan Martin Del Potro vs. (2) Andy Murray

Murray and Del Potro will be facing each other for the eighth time in their careers when the collide in the gold-medal match at the Rio Olympics on Sunday. The head-to-head series stands at 5-2 in favor of Murray, who has four of their five previous hard-court encounters. But they have not met since 2013, when Del Potro prevailed 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-1 in the Indian Wells quarterfinals. The 27-year-old Argentine has missed much of the last three seasons, which explains why he has not squared off against Murray–and other top players–in so long. It’s safe to say Del Potro’s latest comeback from wrist surgery has reached new heights in Rio, where his amazing run features defeats of Novak Djokovic, Joao Sousa, Taro Daniel, Roberto Bautista Agut, and Rafael Nadal.

The 2009 U.S. Open champion needed three sets against Sousa, Daniel, and Nadal, two tiebreakers against Djokovic, and one ‘breaker against Bautista Agut. Murray’s trek through the draw has come with less fanfare, but it certainly has not been easy. The second-ranked Scot trailed Fabio Fognini 3-0 in the third set during third-round action and one day later trailed Steve Johnson by a break at 4-3 in the decider. Murray also defeated Viktor Troicki and Juan Monaco, and he is coming off a 6-1, 6-4 beatdown of Kei Nishikori. Not only is the second seed more rested than Del Potro, but he can also rely on the experience of having played for–and won–a gold medal in singles (at the 2012 London Olympics).

Pick: Murray in 3

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(3) Rafael Nadal vs. (4) Kei Nishikori

Nadal finally lost in Rio de Janeiro. Despite having missed more than two months of this summer because of a wrist injury that knocked him out of the French Open, the Spaniard captured doubles gold with Marc Lopez and reached the semifinals in singles. But Nadal put his 9-0 overall record to the test on Saturday afternoon and lost a 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(5) thriller to Del Potro. He is still battling for a medal, however, thanks to victories over Federico Delbonis, Andreas Seppi, and Gilles Simon, and Thomaz Bellucci that carried him into the semifinals.
Nadal 1
Up next for the third seed is an 11th career showdown against Nishikori, who is a horrendous 1-9 in the head-to-head series. Nadal has won two in a row at Nishikori’s expense this season since falling to the Japanese star right around this time last year at the Rogers Cup. Like the other three remaining participants in this event, Nishikori has flirted with disaster at times. He trailed Gael Monfils 6-3 in the final-set tiebreaker on Friday before winning the last five points of the match to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The world No. 7 preceded that result by getting the best of Albert Ramos-Vinolas, John Millman, and Andrej Martin. Nishikori looked like he was on his last legs during a disappointing performance against Murray in the semis, and he will need a resurgence in energy even against a presumably fatigued Nadal.

Pick: Nadal in 3

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189 Comments on Olympic medal rounds preview and predictions: Murray vs. Del Potro, Nadal vs. Nishikori

  3. Rafa will beat Nishikori.
    Del Potro already feels he’s won, e.g. his huge celebration after beating Nole only to be matched yesterday when he beat Rafa. I would love to see him celebrate winning the Silver.

    Reply

  5. Murray for the gold although I would love ti see Delpo winning the whole thing but it is so unlikely.,,
    Rafa deserves the medal in his yet another comeback after the wrist injury…however, his body and soul may be overspent for such feature.,,in any case, Rafa has nothing to prove and even if he loses he is proved his greatness…
    Thank you, Rafa! We love you! ❤️

    Reply

  9. hoping rafa gets it done in 2 as i can’t see him having the gas to go 3. kei was very poor against murray so i hope that trend continuues.
    would love love love for delpo to win but just can’t see him winning best of 5 after last night. go delpo!! the match between rafa and delpo last night really shows what tennis has been missing when those 2 are out of the game.

    Reply

    • I am going with Rafa over Nishi for the bronze medal. I do think that he will have the desire to win a medal in singles. Rafa showed what heart, grit and will was all about as he fought to the end in his match with Delpo.

      I am hoping Rafa can get it done in 2 sets.

      Given that the final is a best of five set match. I think it’s going to be a huge task for Delpo. One has to wonder what he has left after the match with Rafa. It would be something if he could go on adrenalin and find a way to win the gold, but I believe that Murray will be equally motivated to win another gold for his country.

      I can see Murray winning in 3 sets if Delpo is not up to it.

      Reply

  12. Message from a celebrity.
    Antonio Banderas ‏19 hours ago: “Rafa, just saw you playing yet another great match. Too bad the final escaped but what a great champion you are. And my encouragement for the bronze medal match!”
    https://twitter.com/antoniobanderas

    Antonio Banderas has watched Rafa matches at Roland Garros and Wimbledon (maybe somewhere else too) and has been Rafa’s favourite actor.

    Reply

  17. Rafa is totally gassed out.. well played champ… I think he would surely have won at least silver if he hadn’t played doubles but he played and he won gold 🙂

    I hope he skips Cincy and works in his forehand to get it more aggressive. He has shown this week that he is NOT going anywhere.

    Vamos!

    Reply

  18. I have no coverage of Rafa v Kei — other than the score. Score looks like Kei is having some nerves serving for the match. And Rafa has to be tired. Is Rafa still going to compete in Cincy?

    It’s not over. Rafa breaks back…

    Reply

  31. NBC making me watch USA mixed doubles. No coverage on TV for Rafa v Kei. Nothing on Tennis Channel. Cincinnati washed out today — from what I can tell.

    And I could care less which team wins — Venus/Ram or Sock/BMS. Maybe a little more for BMS/Sock…

    time for lunch. Rafa should get this win/medal.

    Reply

    • rc,

      Nice to see you back here! I am really frustrated with bravo channel showing the mixed doubles! Who cares!

      I want to see Rafa’s match!

      Reply

      • Hey Nny. Thanks. Nice to be back. Was on a vacation and it seems like forever since I last watched tennis! I went through withdrawal while away, lol…

        Bravo sucks – so does NBC and TC.

        Reply

  36. 6-1 to Rafa in the TB!! The crowd is supporting him biggg time!

    AND RAFAEL NADAL seals the tie break with a wonderful swinging serve which his opponent couldn’t return.

    Wow, just WOW! 1 hr 16 mins for this set!

    I learnt a lesson today: Never count this man out!! NEVER! Even I thought it is curtains after he fell 5-2 (DOUBLE BREAK DOWN) and I went out to get food. I don’t know how we pulled it back to 5-5 but he was solid as a rock in the tie break and also saved a break point at 5-5!

    The Olympic spirit is still alive! He deserves a medal! Please!!

    Reply

    • vr,

      Can you see the match? Because it’s not being shown in the states!

      RC and I are very frustrated! I wanted to see Rafa!

      It sounds like he had another comeback in that tb! God bless him!

      Reply

  39. hahahaha what was Rafa doing with his arms? LOL he was literally dancing/parading to the chanting of ‘Raaafaa *clap clap* Raafaaa *clap clap* ‘

    Rafa is not happy that Nishi is taking that much time! Nishi is off the court

    Reply

  45. Rafa is already in a bad mood and that body blow won’t help. Rafa hit a dropper and Nishi chased it and hit it straight at Rafa! he apologized a lot but the crowd boo-ed.

    Rafa is down 15-40 on serve …he is hitting his forehand more aggressively though!

    OH shit, Rafa hit a good forehand CC, approaches the net but Nishi plays a sick backhand slice at Rafa’s feet… 3-1 Nishi

    Rafa arguing with the umpire. He is one cranky guy at the moment.

    Reply

  48. Nishi-Nadal finally on TV in Poland! I’m gonna be able to watch from now on.
    Nadal hits his forehand really agressive but this might be a sign that his gas tank is really empty and he can’t play it out the other way.

    Reply

  50. This arguing with the umpire is not gonna help Nadal to come back in this match.
    Heard something from the commentator about Nishikori’s long break before the third. If it was a tactic move it was a very bad thing from Kei but maybe he just had diarrhoea or sth 🙂

    Reply

    • I can only follow the live score. I saw that Nishi was up a break.

      Rafa is really having a tough time.

      The match is over on bravo but no Rafa!

      Reply

  54. Thanks for the Rio live score link, Manwerty! VR’s alternate link won’t work for me here. But now that the USA doubles are over there should be coverage soon.

    If Kei blows this lead again it will be sad for him! happy for Rafa but geez Kei is frustrating.

    Reply

    • Bravo will show the gold medal match. But no Rafa yet. I don’t understand why they are not showing Rafa’s match!

      Reply

      • Lord, have patience! They are now showing the mixed doubles ceremony, Nny. ?
        Actually like seeing Hlavacka/Stepanek smiling getting the bronze – they’re enjoying it. Venus and Ram…not so much. Guess they wanted a different medal. Happy for Jack and Bethanie.

        Reply

        • rc,

          Yes now they are showing the medal ceremony. I am happy for Jack and Bethanny. She was crying during the playing of the national anthem.

          So it’s over and Rafa loses. He rarely is cold at the net like people are saying. Nishi did something to make him mad. We know that Rafa doesn’t get upset without a reason.

          I think Rafa just hit a wall. He gave it his all and has nothing left.

          I hope that rafa comes out if this with the wrist okay. He got the gold medal in doubles and fought like a champion!

          Well done, Rafa!

          Proud to be your fan!

          ❤️??

          Reply

          • I’ll have to watch the match/handshake before I make a judgement. Lots of people read too much into emotions right after a match like that. I read that Rafa was unhappy Kei had been taking too much time — didn’t realize there was a long bathroom break.

            Now, maybe Rafa and Andy sit out Cincy to be ready for US Open…you think? But it might not be too much for Andy if Delpo can’t put up much of a fight. Delpo will have a cheering section in Rio!

            Vamos Delpo!

  55. No problem, been checking the live scores on that site the whole week 🙂
    Nishi looks really good right now. Even if Rafa holds now I seriously doubt he will collapse mentally when serving for the match.

    Reply

  56. can’t see the match. livescores says that rafa hasn’t won a single point off kei’s second serve this set. that’s not going to cut it.

    Reply

  59. hardlines rafa! you obviously fought your heart out and were exhausted so there is nothing to feel bad about.
    am very proud of you for your guts and heart.

    Reply

  60. So Kei wins. Rafa played a good set to be honest but Kei was pretty damn good !

    I have NEVER seen Rafa doing such a cold handshake!! he is SO PISSED! don’t know what was annoying him so much. It all began with Kei taking a longgg bathroom break

    Reply

  62. Didn’t get to see a bit of it. But sorry for Rafa. (Not very much, really!) He’s got so much! Happy Kei got a medal for his country. I thought he’d never get it done.

    Reply

  63. All over! Even if Rafa had won, I still stand by what I have been saying all along. He should not have played the singles. I guess Rafa thought like this, ” Even with my bum wrist, I am still Spain’s best bet to win medals (in tennis). So I must give my all even if it means the end of my career.” It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done…Rafa a la Sydney Carton

    Reply

    • TBH I also did not want Rafa to play the Olympics! I thought it was too early but once he was there I hoped for the best.
      I hope Rafa’s wrist is fine! I really do. If not, he will be in real trouble for the rest of the season.,.I think his team knows what they are doing and wouldn’t let him risk that much…,

      Reply

  64. Rafa just wouldn’t go without fight! Great effort but Nishi did all he needed to win in the end! He played well, while Rafa seemed unable to return Nishi’s serve. I am talking about the third set only when I was finally able to watch the match.
    Nishi took pretty long break between the sets when Rafa was on the run. Was it tactical I Can’t say, but it did get Rafa upset. He was nervous for the remaining time of the match and kept complaining which lead him nowhere…
    Sad Rafa did not get the medal after all he has invested in this but I think Rafa is hitting better and will be ready for USO!
    Vamos Champ!

    Reply

  67. I can’t believe how hard Delpo struggled in his first service game. Andy finally gets the early break to go up 2-0.

    Not looking good for Delpo.

    I think Delpo may be out of gas at this point.

    Reply

    • Uh, not so fast. Delpo may well be gassed but he just broke back.

      Andy is still the favorite to win this match, but Delpo is showing some fight.

      Reply

      • Murray breaks right back. So much for Delpo getting back on track.

        Andy is the fresher player and has so much confidence,

        Reply

        • Re NBC’s live streaming: You have to open an account by which they mean give them the name of your cable provider and your password for that. You do that once. You may have to log in again occasionally but they’ll remember you if you ask them to. I’m told that you can watch replays of events but have not tried that myself.

          Reply

    • It’s pretty much what we expected. That match with Rafa had to take it out of Delpo. That was a long tough battle. Too many three setters this week for Delpo, catching up with him now.

      Reply

  73. It’s hard to believe Delpo is in the final in Rio. I didn’t expect him to get this far. He’ll just have to settle for silver. Anyways, Andy is the best one in this match by a lot. Considering the past months, Rafa and Delpo are amazing to have had such a great run in Rio.

    …as I type that Delpo breaks back 😀

    Reply

  74. This is so weird. Just when you think that Delpo is done, he comes back and gets the break. Now he has to hold and consolidate the break to get back in the set.

    Reply

  76. bloody pascal maria not letting delpo have the challenge for a ball that was probably out and would have given him 3 break points.

    Reply

    • As much as I respect Murray’s game and his heart to fight I have always found all aspects of his behaviour on court very annoying 😀

      Reply

      • Yep, I feel exactly the same way. I find watching Murray tolerable only when Lendl is courtside to keep Muzz’ behavior in check. If I were his mum I’d have whapped him upside the head with his own racket when he acted like that.

        Reply

  79. goddamn it. delpo got tight. think i will stop watching it now. cross with pascal maris over that missed challenge to get the break…

    Reply

  80. Murray is a concrete wall! his backhand is absorbing everything and he is also managing to change direction on backhands. Poor delpo is feeling the fatigue

    Reply

  81. Does anyone else also feel that with a day-off between SF’s & F, Muzz’s chances of gold would have been seriously jeopardised?

    Reply

  82. I am back home and back watching this match. Good for him being up a break in the second set. He’s battling.

    Now 0-30 on Murray’s serve.

    Reply

  86. WOW! Just WOW!!

    I don’t know how Delpo is managing to do it. The guy has single handedly lit up the whole event.

    Win or lose man, you have made tennis community really proud!!

    Reply

  87. Delpo is such a smooth volley-er! His net game is better than Djokovic’s… He is now a well-rounded player. His backhand slice is effective and has added new dimensions to his game. He is better than the USO 2009 Delpo in terms of capabilities and weapons.

    Reply

    • He always was a well rounded tennis players.
      Good movement, good defending, good net play. And to top it all, good temperament.
      Rather, he hardly serves the way players with his height do.

      So unlucky, that his injury occurred just when he started playing top draw tennis. Lost his peak years to injury.
      He would have made this Big4 into Big5.

      Reply

    • I thought Murray would win in 3 sets. I was wrong. Delpo is not quitting! He has really brought the goods this week. He is playing with conviction and belief. He seems to get energy from somewhere.

      He’s also playing smart tennis. He knows what he needs to do.

      Reply

  89. This match is just insane in proving me wrong!
    Each time I think that this is over and Delpo has nothing left in his gas tank, he raises his level 🙂
    #godelpo

    Reply

  91. Anyone else, except Rafa, would give up by now. Delpo plays like he may never get another chance. Dogged, persistent. Andy has to be tired of that ****** Delpo forehand by now. LOL…another break.

    Reply

  94. ? here we go… they held serve. Delpo did. Andy did. Come on serve it out please, Juan Martin…let’s go five …might as well. Cancel Cincinnati, call in sick.

    Reply

  95. 15-40 and Delpo comes with such an amazing shot!
    Anyway, Murray’s defending level is insane right now. This guy gets to every single ball!

    Reply

  96. Andy’s defending is insane. And he’s the stronger one —
    Delpo has amazing stretch, reach. And luck error from Andy. Duece.

    OH ****! dang. Advantage Andy. That was a killer rally.

    Reply

  97. By the way, maybe the olympics are not as important as Slams and Masters 1000 but Del Potro vs Djokovic, Del Potro vs Nadal and this one are quite possibly the best tennis matches played in 2016!

    Reply

    • yeah, indeed manwerty. I’m not exactly all that excited about Olympics but these athletes — Novak, Delpo, Andy, Rafa, gosh sakes, Monica Puig….Olympics means the world to them.

      Reply

    • If not for his congenital foot deformity, Rafa would have been the undisputed greatest of all time. His foot almost ended his career. But with special shoes he could play but like the little mermaid he had to pay a heavy price. He was/is always playing through immense pain and putting his knee, hips and back under severe strain causing him serious injuries. But for his mental strength he could never have won as many slams as he has. Any other athlete would have probably retired long ago.

      Reply

  102. If Rafa had been playing, I would have switched off the match by now. But with Muzz and Delpo playing, I have no skin in the game and can watch and enjoy!

    Reply

  105. Murray was there in the French open final and now is in the Olympics final. No prizes for guessing which poster got too tense to watch the matches!!!

    Reply

  107. It’s a shame this match wasn’t contested after a day off for both of these guys. It surely would have been much closer, much more competitive, maybe even with a different result.
    Anyway it was a stunning display from both, congratz to Delpo for the whole tournament, let’s hope it’s the beginning of his another comeback to greatness!

    Reply

    • This was a great match to watch! So many ups and downs and each guy trying to give it his best.

      Delpo kept on fighting and did himself proud. But Andy was tough when it counted in the crucial moments of the match.

      Congratulations to Andy Murray on repeating his fear of winning singles gold!

      Reply

  108. ? Delpo. He’s so sweet. such a good man. I love Delpo. ?
    I’ll be happy for Andy in a minute or two. My hopes got all up for Delpo.

    They better show the medal ceremony dang it.

    Reply

  109. Although not a fan of Delpo, I am really feeling sad for him. What a performance! If this guy’s wrist is ok, he is definitely going to win slams soon!

    Reply

    • I really enjoyed watching Olympic tennis this week. Some memorable matches with players putting it all on the line for no rankings points or money, but just for pride of country!

      Congratulations to all of the medal winners and all the players who participated!

      ???❤️

      Reply

  114. So no metal for Rafa after all those matches. At least Lopez carried him to the doubles gold. Lucky to have a doubles specialist on your team.

    Reply

  115. British TV promised to show the medal ceremony. Waited up in vain for over an hour but they switched to Usain Bolt and other athletic events – finally gave up and crawled into bed at 4 am

    Reply

  116. Delpo seemed always the one who did the heavy duty for the benefit of others. In 2012 he pushed Fed to the limit, for the benefit of Murray in the final. In this Olympics, he stretched Rafa to the limit, for the benefit of Kei; at his own expense too in the final.

    Delpo at his very best will certainly give all the top guys plenty of problems and imo he rightfully should be in the top five, even ahead of Stan. Now with Fed injuried and his form questionable, maybe its time for Delpo to make a move in the rankings, into top ten at least come next year.

    Congrats to Murray, for the special feat he achieved here at the Olympics. I think its time for him to make a push for the no.1 ranking this year, he seems the most healthy one among the top guys.

    Reply

  118. what heart from delpo! please let this guy stay healthy now for a long time. tennis is infinitely richer when he is back in the frame, out for years effectively and look at him beating nole,rafa and giving murray a real fight. if he were not so tired he could have won.
    and absolutely not hats off to pascal maria who wouldn’t allow delpo’s challenge even though he raised his arm straightaway at the end of the first set. the ball was out and would have given delpo 3 break points and very likely the first set! that’s a real injustice. if he had taken the first set he could have won the whole thing.
    bet no-one wants to play delpo in the early rounds of the uso.

    Reply

    • Bang on Amy.

      That call was brutal. Murray hit the ball before the call and I’ve seen this too often.

      Not sure it would have made the difference though. I don’t think Delpo had anything left for a fifth.

      Just happy to see him back as a force again.

      Reply

      • but it might not have gone to 5 if delpo had taken the first set hawks. the whole dynamic of the match would have changed. even the british commentators were saying that delpo was outplaying murray at that point. who knows? you can never tell because murray could have raised his game in the second as a response and won that one rather than losing it.
        but pascal maria made completely the wrong call. even the british commentators were saying that it was very unfair as delpo clearly made the signal to challenge.

        Reply

  119. Congrats deucey, your man won. It must be hard pretending to be a Rafa fan while being anti Rafa but why do you make it harder still by pretending to be anti Muzz when you are a Muzz fan? You must have been really upset when I exposed you and afraid of your troll mates reaction to the deception. But in your private email circuit they must have assured you that a troll’s identity is being a troll, fan base is irrelevant!

    Reply

      • Thanks to natashao, hawkeye and native have at least temporarily suspended their Gussie abuse duet(sometimes a tercet with vr joining in). Exposure as deucey has rendered Amy toothless. Troll team is looking for a new victim and is trying me out in that role!!!
        #hawkeyetrolling

        Reply

        • No you’re alone in that department.

          What’s the matter ritb. Can’t get your fix today?

          Maybe this will give you a little hit to calm the shakes.

          Reply

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