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

Written by: on 12th August 2016
Olympic Games 2016 Tennis
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.”

 

 

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

 

Topics: , , , , , , , , , ,








10sBalls Top Stories

In Case You Missed It

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA thumbnail

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA

Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday that Eugenie Bouchard is the winner of the 2018 Excellence Awards in the Female Player of the Year and Singles Player of the Year categories.
TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE

Time to get tickets to watch! Surly you have heard about The Largest Open Tennis Event in America!
TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER

According to Uncle Toni, Rafael Nadal was supposed to be back at practice on either Dec. 4 or 5. Well, better late than never!
Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife thumbnail

Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife

Española y checa ya trabajaron juntas durante el pasado Open de Estados Unidos
ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS thumbnail

ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia hits a forehand to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during her second round match at the Nature Valley International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, Great Britain, on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.