RAFA NADAL, KEI NISHIKORI, ANDY MURRAY ALL SURVIVE AT RIO OLYMPICS, & JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO’S RUN CONTINUES

Written by: Staff on 12th August 2016

RAFA NADAL, KEI NISHIKORI, ANDY MURRAY ALL SURVIVE AT RIO OLYMPICS, & JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO'S RUN CONTINUES

epa05477799 Spain's Rafael Nadal in action against Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil during their Rio 2016 Olympic Games Men's Singles match at the Olympic Tennis Centre in the Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 12 August 2016. EPA/FERNANDO MAIA |

By Ricky Dimon

A dramatic day of singles action at the Rio Olympics saw three of the top four seeds in the tournament book their spots in the semifinals. The lone outsider? None other than Juan Martin Del Potro, whose dramatic run through the Rio de Janeiro draw continued with a 7-5, 7-6(4) victory over Roberto Bautista Agut on Friday.

Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina hits a return to Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain during their Rio 2016 Olympic Games Men’s Singles match at the Olympic Tennis Centre in the Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 12 August 2016. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

It is safe to say the 27-year-old Argentine’s appearance in the last four is a considerable surprise, and not just because he has missed much of the last few years due to wrist problems. He had to go up against Novak Djokovic right away in round one of these Olympics, but Del Potro pulled off a 7-6(4), 7-6(2) upset. The 2009 U.S. Open champion then needed three sets to get past Joao Sousa and Taro Daniel.

Although Del Potro’s scoreline against Bautista Agut marked his most routine of the week, it was far from easy. The 17th-ranked Spaniard recovered from two breaks down in the first set en route to a 5-5 deadlock and also battled back from a break down in the second to force a tiebreaker. On each occasion, however, Del Potro came up with the goods when it mattered most.

The 2012 London Olympics bronze medalist will face Rafael Nadal on Saturday for a place in the final.

“I cannot believe the moment,” Del Potro commented. “The crowd makes me cry in every match. I don’t want to think about Rafa yet; he is the next opponent and he is the favorite to get to the final and get the medal, but I am so glad with my success and I will try to be 100 percent.”

Nadal may not be 100 percent physically or emotionally, either. The Spaniard has already played four singles matches and five doubles matches during this event. Those five doubles appearances culminated in a gold medal–well, make it two–on Friday night. Nadal and Marc Lopez came back from a break down in the final set to outlast Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in a dramatic doubles final that lasted two hours and 30 minutes.

In his singles quarterfinal contest, the former world No. 1 erased a set deficit to overcome Thomaz Bellucci 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Kei Nishikori of Japan reacts after defeating Gael Monfils of France during their Rio 2016 Olympic Games Men’s Singles match at the Olympic Tennis Centre in the Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 12 August 2016. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

No. 2 seed Andy Murray and No. 4 Kei Nishikori survived even tougher affairs, both requiring third-set tiebreaks to advance. Murray bounced back after trailing by a break in the deciding frame to scrape past Steve Johnson 6-0, 4-6, 7-6(2). Kei Nishikori saved three match points and won the last five of the match to defeat Gael Monfils 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(6).

“It feels special because we don’t get this opportunity all of the time, competing to win medals for your country,” Murray explained. “For me, it has nothing to do with having won the gold in London. It’s trying to win more medals for your country and your team and I’ll give my best shot to do that.”