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.
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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High-octane first point from Rafa ! big return off a second serve and then boom forehand winner
Please Rafa win this match!
I want him to get a medal!
I am SO proud of him!
vr,
I will rely on your updates!
Rafa is TWICE as much animated, at least. He is fist pumping, showing emotion, vamos-ing and hitting more aggressively
MAGNIFICENT forehands ! 40-30
1-1
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.
Yay. BMS and Sock! Gold. Guess I did want them to win.
Fabulous forehand DTL! 30-30! The crowd are cheering for him big time
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.
I don’t have commentary so not sure what is wrong. Now the referee is there talking to Rafa and Rafa is so agitated.
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 🙂
A wide serve and an inside out forehand!
That’s how Rafa used to win points back in the days!
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!
What a dig from Nishikori!
It was 15-30, Rafa came to the net but how quickly Kei ran to this ball! 30-30
Rafa hitting well but just not able to put Nishi away..
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.
Bravo will show the gold medal match. But no Rafa yet. I don’t understand why they are not showing Rafa’s match!
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.
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!
❤️??
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!
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.
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.
My stats say it’s 7/9 on Nishi’s 2nd lol.
might be losing my marbles manwerty! don’t like livescores…
Double match point as Nishikori serves an ace wide.
Over after Nishi serves a body serve at 40-15 and Nadal can’t get into position in time!
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.
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