The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsAndy Murray has successfully defended his Olympic gold medal in Rio as the Brit wore down Juan Martin Del Potro in a gripping yet bruising encounter to triumph 7-5 4-6 6-2 7-5. The world number two edged the first set and even though Del Potro responded, Murray raised his level to dominate the third set. However, with the momentum continuing to swing back and forth, in the following set the Argentine served to take the match to a decider, but Murray fought back to eventually complete a emotional win and claim his second Olympic gold title.
In the opening set, Murray quickly held his serve before forcing his opponent into a lengthy service game, and eventually the Brit secured the break with a comfortable volley at the net to go ahead 2-0. Even though Del Potro immediately responded to break back, the world number two maintained the pressure and regained the break advantage in the following game when his opponent placed a backhand wide. Murray consolidated the break to open up a 4-1 margin but the Argentine continued to battle hard and capitalised on a loose game from the world number two to get the set back on serve at 4-3. With Del Potro in the ascendancy and threatening to take control, Murray did well to edge ahead in the scoreline and at 6-5 up, the Brit made the crucial breakthrough with a scorching backhand passing shot winner down the line to clinch the set.
As the second set unfolded, Del Potro still remained a threat and with Murray displaying inconsistent form early on, the Argentine capitalised to gain the early break with a backhand passing shot winner. The Brit though threatened to recover the deficit and had opportunities to do so, but he found his opponent’s powerful groundstrokes too much to handle, as Del Potro just managed to keep his advantage intact throughout. Despite saving a set point at 5-3 before forcing his opponent to serve out the set, Murray’s resistance and defensive skills were not enough to contend with the Argentine’s brutal shot making, and eventually Del Potro closed out the set with a huge forehand winner to level the match at one set apiece.
In the third set, both players held serve comfortably but at 3-2 up, Murray started to build pressure on the Del Potro serve and eventually the tiring Argentine succumbed, spraying a forehand wide to concede the crucial break. The Brit held his next game to establish a 5-2 lead, and then continued to outmanoeuvre as well as outlast Del Porto in the baseline rallies to break again, by swatting away a forehand return winner to wrap up the set.
However, the fourth set saw Murray unexpectedly produce an error strewn game and Del Potro took full advantage to break his opponent in the first game of the set. But, both players would exchange breaks as the Argentine went ahead again but Murray was able to hit back immediately by forcing his opponent all over the court, especially with his low slice. However, Del Potro managed to level the scoreline at 3-3 before another erratic game from the Brit allowed the Argentine to break once more. Even though at times Del Potro appeared more affected by the physicality of the contest, he consolidated the break to build a 5-3 lead, but the world number two reduced the deficit to force his opponent to close out the set. However, with both players battling against each other in exhausting and punishing rallies, Murray finally converted one of his several opportunities to break back. The Brit was in danger of again conceding his serve as Del Potro’s deep hitting brought up break points, but Murray responded with a series of timely aces to eventually survive and move 6-5 up. Standing just one game away from victory, the world number two successfully upped the aggression on Del Potro’s serve and despite the Argentine showing strong resistance, Murray finally overcame his exhausted opponent after another gruelling rally to clinch his second gold medal.
With this magnificent victory, Murray also becomes the first player to defend the Olympic title in the men’s singles tennis competition.
Also, Kei Nishikori claimed the bronze medal as the Japanese star capitalised on a physically spent Rafael Nadal to beat the Spaniard 6-2 6-7 6-3. Nadal, who was edged out by Del Potro in a epic semifinal tussle, somehow battled back from 5-2 down in the second set to force a decider, but Nishikori held his nerve in the third set to clinch his first Olympic medal.
On the women’s side, Monica Puig made history as she beat Angelique Kerber 6-4 4-6 6-1 to secure Puerto Rica’s first ever Olympic gold medal. Petra Kvitova won the bronze medal with a three set win over Madison Keys.
