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
[polldaddy poll=9496878]
(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.
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
[polldaddy poll=9496854]
WWW?
Going for the upset, would love to see Del Potro win!
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.
Murray in 3
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! ❤️
Murray in 3. Nishikori in 3.
I’m hoping for Delpo and Nishi to win, but unfortunately don’t see it happening
Nadal in three and Del Po in five
IS THE MATCH FOR THE GOLD IS FIVE SETTERS ?
yup
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.
I think Murray will get the Gold….and Rafa the bronze….hope so .
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.
Keep your mind sharp and focused, remain confident, believe in yourself, be strong and fight bravely, Rafa!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cp03yd-WEAEmYrM.jpg
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.
Murray for the gold and Rafa for the bronze.
Rafa not looking animated.
Rafa has come out flat… very low on energy. Nishi is playing well. Chances of Rafa winning very slim here
feared this would happen vr…he left so much on the court last night and the night before..
yeah…he is emotionally drained…. so obvious from his face and body language. He needs a rush of adrenalin…
not sure it’s possible for him to gee himself up now. he’s just out of gas.
Something’s definitely wrong with Rafa. Hope it is not his wrist. Hope he is just tired.
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!
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…
Good Gosh. Kei will blow his chance to medal for Japan ? ???
Rafa just did a mild fist pump!