By Chris Oddo | Sunday August 14, 2016
Andy Murray became the first player to win back-to-back Gold medals by defeating Juan Martin del Potro in Rio on Sunday.
Photo Source: Clive Brunskill
Never before had a tennis player won back-to-back Gold medals at the Olympic Games. Never before Sunday August 14, 2016, that is.
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Andy Murray kept his historical summer chugging along in brilliant fashion in the Olympic men’s singles final, outlasting Juan Martin del Potro in a knock-down, drag-out four-set affair that ran over four hours and felt more like five and a half.
In the end it was Murray who survived enough of the battles to win the war, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5, despite a brave-hearted effort from Del Potro. The Argentinean—affectionately dubbed the Tower of Tandil because of his enormousness—wasn’t given much of a chance by pundits in the final, based both on Murray’s scorching form and the fact that the Olympic men’s singles final is a best-of-five affair that rewards endurance as much as it does shotmaking and execution.
Apparently the memo didn’t make it to Del Potro, who proved to be remarkably resilient throughout the back-and-forth affair.
The world No.141 played with an edgy fire throughout, and his tennis was scintillating enough to put him on the brink of forcing a decider. Trailing two sets to one, Del Potro served for the fourth set but couldn’t push the rock all the way up the proverbial hill. He ended up dropping the final three games to a relentless Murray, who pushed and pulled the tempo of this match whenever Del Potro couldn’t find a way to hurt him with his legendary forehand.
Murray’s poise was remarkable as well, and that is likely due to the fact that he has done nothing but win since May. The Scotsman has triumphed in 33 of his last 35 matches, and he claimed his second Wimbledon title just over a month ago. That measure or success has turned him into a pillar of belief on the court, and it showed in the pressure moments of this match as he was able to execute his gameplan with clarity and continue to incrementally take the shine from Del Potro’s poignant power game.
Del Potro, bidding to become Argentina’s first Gold medalist in tennis, had many chances to change his fate but could not bring them to fruition.
It wasn’t that nerves got to Del Potro. He simply couldn’t solve Murray’s defensive riddle, and either found himself having to go for too much or use too much energy to do just the right amount. It was a suffocating counterattack from Murray’s side of the net that brought him out of trouble and to his first match point with Del Potro serving at 5-6 in set four.
Nerves would delay the Murray celebration as he netted a makeable return but on the next point he completed a supreme run in Rio that ranks right up there with many other of Murray’s unprecedented Milestones.
He’s the man that has broken all of Great Britain’s tennis curses, and now he’s the man that laid the Golden egg—twice.
The pair of valiant adversaries shared a tender moment at net before both headed to their respective chairs and broke down in tears. The raw emotions were indicative of the passion with which this event was played.
Del Potro, who shocked world No.1 Novak Djokovic in the first round last Sunday, barely nudged past a rejuvenated Rafael Nadal in yesterday’s semifinal round. Though he hinted that the victory—and the Silver medal it guaranteed—was enough for him, Del Potro's competitive instincts kicked in on Sunday despite obvious fatigue.
Back on tour for just six months after a year-long hiatus that saw him endure three wrist surgeries, Del Potro encountered the most challenging week of his comeback in Rio and whenever it seemed that he might lose the will, he doubled down and impressively found another gear.
Nadal, who failed to medal after losing to Kei Nishikori in the Bronze medal match, was similarly inspiring. He won Gold in doubles and logged well over 20 hours on court this week, and never once did he wilt. Playing his first competitive tennis after a 73-day hiatus due to a wrist tendon injury, his performance has many hopeful that better things could be on the way later this summer.
But the true hero was Murray, as he has been all summer. He is accustomed to exactly the type of strain that he endured in Rio. Murray’s career has been played with the weight of his nation on his back, and each time he breaks off another epic milestone he seems to shed a pound or two of that heaviness.
He appeared lighter on the podium, as he took his place between Del Potro and Nishikori, even with that gorgeous sphere of Gold draped around his neck.