So Andy Murray is still the Olympic champion. That’s all from me tonight. Thanks for reading and emailing. Night!
Updated
Andy Murray manages to remember all the words of the national anthem, singing along as it blares around Centre Court. Then the three of them come together for a group photo. Murray manages another awkward grin. He’s so very ... Murray.
Updated
But gold goes to Great Britain’s Andy Murray. Four years after beating Roger Federer in London, he’s done it again, defeating Del Potro in an epic final. He just about manages a smile.
A huge ovation for Juan Martin del Potro as he collects his silver medal. Even the Brazilians are showing their appreciation for him now. He’s smiling now. Can you blame him? He almost gave this sport up.
Kei Nishikori is the first to collect his bronze medal. Remember, he’s the first Japanese player to win an Olympic tennis medal since 1920.
Updated
It’s time for the victory ceremony. Andy Murray strides out first and he’s followed by silver medalist Juan Martin del Potro and bronze medalist Kei Nishikori, who beat Rafa Nadal earlier. The Argentinian fans are still chanting Del Potro’s name.
Heather Watson and her mother were also watching.
Murray vs Delpo match point 🙈 watching it with my mum stateside #lol pic.twitter.com/P2FLQ7k9wO
— Heather Watson (@HeatherWatson92) August 15, 2016
Andy Murray should hang his head in shame. Look what he’s put his poor mother through.
4 hours of torture. Made slightly more bearable after I switched the sound off after 3 games. #Olympics #tennis
— judy murray (@JudyMurray) August 15, 2016
👌
Del Potro picks up his bags and waves to the crowd. Even the Brazilian fans are saluting him. It’s all too much. His eyes are very red.
“Ole! Ole! Ole! Ole! Delpo! Delpo!” That chant from the crowd just about sums it up. The big man has to settle for silver but that doesn’t feel like much of a consolation as he returns to his chair and looks at the ground with tears in his eyes.
Updated
Andy Murray wins 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5! It's Olympic gold for Great Britain!
So for the first time in this match, which has been going on for All Eternity, Del Potro is serving to stay in this remarkable Olympic final. So he might as well go hell for leather on the first point. He wheels into that forehand and grinds Murray down to lead 15-0. Murray wins the next point, doing just about enough with an overhead, but then he swipes a forehand return wide for 30-15. But then it’s Del Potro’s turn to fail with a forehand, the game going to 30-all. Murray looks like he’s about to win the next point when Del Potro drops a ball short. Yet he seems put off when some clown shouts out from the crowd and he totally messes up his drop shot. He stares at the crowd. If looks could kill. It’s 40-30. But not for long. Del Potro is dragged to deuce when he misses a backhand. The volume’s increasing and, just to add to the drama, an Argentinian fan is being ejected. Appropriately enough, he’s wearing a jester hat. Eventually he’s sent on his way, boos ringing around the arena as he leaves, and play can continue. When it does, Del Potro wallops a forehand wide. It would have been a winner. But wide it went and Murray has his first gold medal point! Can he take it? No! He nets a tight forehand return for deuce! But he has another chance when Del Potro, unnerved by a fine return, nets a backhand slice. Is this the moment? It is! Del Potro puts everything into a series of huge forehands. But he’s looking so tired. And this time he’s not kidding around. He’s dropping them short and Murray’s in the rally. He seizes control with a forehand into the left corner and Del Potro, on his last legs, can only slice into the net! That’s it! It’s all over! Andy Murray is the Olympic champion again! He’s in tears! Of course he is. He loves a good cry. And why not? No one’s ever won back to back Olympic titles in the tennis before!
Updated
Fourth set: Murray* 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 6-5 Del Potro (*denotes server): Simple analysis about what Murray needs to do here: STOP DOING DOUBLE FAULTS. He heeds my advice. Yet it doesn’t matter when Del Potro pops a forehand down the line to lead 0-15. It’s happening again, isn’t it. Yep. It’s 0-30 when Del Potro swings at a forehand off a second serve, forcing Murray to miss a backhand. Murray looks exasperated. Then it’s Del Potro’s turn to hold his head in his hands. A forehand’s called long. The umpire overrules it. Murray challenges. It was in! They’ll have to replay the point and Murray, who’s out of challenges, has a first serve. He wins the point at the net to make it 15-30. But he’s not out of the woods yet, far from it, especially when Del Potro sees a fine Murray approach and punches a wondrous backhand down the line out of nowhere to bring up two break points. I doubt Murray wants to see his serving stats from this set. They must make for grim reading. Yet just when you think it’s done, you forget that this is Andy Murray’s world and nothing ever makes sense. Del Potro squanders the first break point with a netted backhand. Murray saves the second with an ace. But of course. Barely able to make a serve throughout the set, then he does that. Another ace brings up game point and Murray holds when Del Potro nets a backhand. He’s a game away from the gold medal. Mind you, I quite want to see how ridiculous a tie-break between these two would be.
@JacobSteinberg Tennis? Wow, this is more like the Ali-Frazier Rumble in the Jungle. What an epic match. #OlympicTennis
— Hubert O'Hearn (@BTBReviews) August 14, 2016
Updated
Fourth set: Murray 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 5-5 Del Potro* (*denotes server): Serving to force an unlikely fifth set, Del Potro throws everything at Murray. But it’s superb defence from Murray, who wins the point when Del Potro gets jittery with a forehand for 0-15. Murray’s got another 0-30 lead when Del Potro nets a backhand slice. He looks tired. Then again, he always looks tired. He could sleep for a year and emerge looking tired. Part of the charm. He looks even more knackered after winning the next point with an overhead for 15-30. Yet Murray earns two break points, hurting Del Potro with a splendid backhand down the line. Del Potro’s response? He saves the first with a preposterous forehand drop shot. Even Murray’s not making that one. He can live with that. He can’t abide what he does with the second break point, though, needlessly netting a backhand. He’s happier after the next point, a stunning, seesawing rally that ends with Del Potro blocking a forehand wide after Murray goes for a backhand down the line. Here comes a third break point. Here comes a huge serve. Here’s deuce. But Murray carves out a fourth opportunity. He drop shots and although Del Potro gets there, he rams a forehand past him. And the pressure tells. Murray’s pumping his fist after Del Potro nets a backhand! He’s broken back!
Updated
Fourth set: Murray* 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 4-5 Del Potro (*denotes server): Murray regains some poise on serve, an ace down the middle making it 15-0. He probably should have done that 10 minutes ago. The next two points are Murray’s as well, Del Potro’s forehand letting him down. He holds to 15. Del Potro will have to serve to force a decider.
Fourth set: Murray 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 3-5 Del Potro* (*denotes server): Del Potro’s yet to consolidate a break in this set. Is it to be third time lucky? His prospects aren’t looking too clever when he nets a slice to drop the first point before spooning a forehand long for 0-30. Del Potro grits his teeth. He wins the next two points. Thirty-all. Then Murray nets a forehand return. It’s 40-30. And Del Potro holds thanks to a fantastic volley! What courage he’s showing here. Murray has to serve to stay in the fourth set. But. Well. “We really have been cheated by the Tennis Gods,” says Adam Hirst. “This is an excellent match-up, a really good and interesting game, as it would have been for Del Potro against any of the other three these last 6 years. Both players play well from the baseline but there is enough at the net from both to keep things interesting as well. Cracking stuff.”
Fourth set: Murray* 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 3-4 Del Potro (*denotes server): The Del Potro forehand’s firing again! Murray needs to watch out. It’s 0-15. But there’s not a lot anyone can do when he hits that shot with this much venom. Murray accepts it, gets on with it and wins the next point with a drop shot and a sharp volley for 15-all. Mind you, Del Potro looks surprisingly sprightly all of a sudden and he’s got a 15-30 lead after another double-fault from Murray, who wastes his second challenge of this set. He’s only got one left and he’s screaming at himself. He’s even more infuriated after netting a forehand, conceding two more break points. Murray’s serve has gone to pot again. He draws Del Potro forward. But the Argentinian’s all over this drop shot. Murray tries a backhand lob but it’s nowhere near good enough and Del Potro breaks again with a smash! What’s up with Murray’s concentration?
Fourth set: Murray 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 3-3 Del Potro* (*denotes server): Del Potro helped himself to a quick thigh rub during the changeover there. It seems to have had an effect judging by the way he crushes a forehand down the line for 15-0. Another forehand winner makes it 30-0. A third makes it 40-0. A fourth sees him hold to love. Blimey!
Fourth set: Murray* 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 3-2 Del Potro (*denotes server): It’s about time someone held in this set, about time Murray stopped handing out presents. He stunk the place out with both of his previous service games. But this time he wins the first point, forcing Del Potro to volley long. An ace down the middle makes it 30-0. But Del Potro still has some firepower left, ripping a forehand away to make it 30-15. That’s a warning shot, one Murray won’t want to ignore. Yet he’s rediscovered his consistency. He holds to 15. It’s the first hold of the set. And Del Potro hasn’t won a service game for a while.
Updated
Fourth set: Murray 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 2-2 Del Potro* (*denotes server): A long, tense rally ends with Del Potro wincing as he clips a forehand wide for 0-15. Now he’s struggling to locate his first serve. Bad news against Murray, who’s soon got a 0-30 lead, Del Potro netting a backhand. The next rally ends with Del Potro slicing long. He holds his left thigh. He grimaces. Murray has three break points. The first goes begging, a forehand going wide. But the low, spinning slice down the line does the trick. Del Potro stoops and nets a forehand. He looks knackered. But appearances can be deceiving.
This match is utterly exhausting - goodness knows how the players feel! I think (hope?) Andy looks like he's got more energy left though
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) August 14, 2016
Fourth set: Murray* 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 1-2 Del Potro (*denotes server): Murray’s serving has been pretty iffy at times tonight and he begins this game with his fourth double-fault to gift Del Potro a 0-15 lead. Then he splutters a forehand into the net and that’s 0-30. But Murray hauls himself back to 30-all. Del Potro misses a backhand return for 15-30 before Murray finds the line with a backhand winner. Yet Del Potro’s clutching a break point after a second double-fault from Murray. World No2, you say? This is preposterous. So’s the next rally. Murray tries to pass with a backhand from left to right. Del Potro digs it out from under his feet. Somehow. Murray manages to scoop it up but can only tee it up for Del Potro to plonk the ball back into the open court. Very strange from Murray. Del Potro edges ahead again.
Updated
Fourth set: Murray 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 1-1 Del Potro* (*denotes server): Gifted that break by Murray, Del Potro begins this game with an ace down the middle. Murray’s promptly given a warning for an audible obscenity. It’s no surprise he’s infuriated after that stinker of a service game. That spot of swearing seems to rouse him, though. Del Potro sticks a volley into the net to make it 15-all and Murray makes it 15-30 with a well judged backhand that draws an error from his opponent. A good, deep second serve from Del Potro gets him back to 30-all but Murray has a break point after returning well with a forehand. He chucks it away, though, putting too much into an attempted forehand winner, the ball dropping just wide. Then comes a discussion between Del Potro and the umpire. It’s not clear what’s going on but they’re friends in the end. On they go. And Murray earns a second break point, a backhand down the line too much for Del Potro, who can’t do anything with a volley. What now? Murray genius, that’s what. An absurd, teasing backhand drop shot, beautifully weighted, taunting Del Potro, slapping him in the face. What a shot. Murray breaks back.
Andy Murray a set away from the gold medal. Murray has won his last 37 matches in a row from the position of two sets to one up. #Rio2016
— Stuart Fraser (@stu_fraser) August 14, 2016
Fourth set: Murray* 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 0-1 Del Potro (*denotes server): Del Potro changes rackets, jogs to the baseline and wipes his weary face with a towel. His task looks forlorn as he takes up his position behind the baseline, ready to return, but it’s Murray who makes a dodgy start to the fourth set, losing the first two points with a couple of howlers, missing an easy overhead by miles, then dumping a forehand wide. He doesn’t need to give Del Potro any encouragement. But he’s going through a dip, netting a forehand to hand over two break points. This is appalling from Murray. Utter tosh. He butches another forehand, sending it way past the baseline, to drop his serve. Dearie me, that was awful. Del Potro didn’t have to do a thing.
Andy Murray wins the third set 6-2 to lead 7-5, 4-6, 6-2!
Looking to stay in the third set, Del Potro loses the first two points with errant groundstrokes. Another mistake and Murray has three set points. He can’t take the first, dragging a backhand wide. So he takes the second, swiping a forehand return from right to left, as though it was the easiest thing in the world. He’s a set away from retaining Olympic gold. That ran away from Del Potro very quickly.
Updated
Third set: Murray* 7-5, 4-6, 5-2 Del Potro (*denotes server): The errors are creeping into Del Potro’s game at the moment and it’s not long before Murray leads 30-0. He’s desperate to turn the screw. Del Potro turns up the heat on the next point. But Murray responds with some fire of his own, then scampers on to a drop shot and knocks a backhand down the line to lead 40-0. Del Potro musters some fight after it goes to 40-15, walloping a forehand return away for 40-30, but Murray holds to 30. He’s a game away from winning this set and re-establishing his lead.
Updated
Third set: Murray 7-5, 4-6, 4-2 Del Potro* (*denotes server): It won’t be a surprise if Del Potro slows down at some point and there’s a whiff that this might be the moment – he begins this game with his first double-fault of the match. Another one makes it 0-30. This is definitely a dull. But it doesn’t last long. Murray nets a forehand return, then finds that dastardly net in the way again when he goes for a backhand. 30-all, then. But Murray isn’t going anywhere. Del Potro tries to trip him up with a slice behind him but Murray adjusts ridiculously, turning and whipping a forehand pass out of reach to earn his first break point in this set. Del Potro’s response? An enormous forehand that forces Murray to net a slice for a deuce. Murray has another chance when Del Potro dips a hopeful slice wide, though, and this time he takes it when the Argentinian batters a forehand long. “Come on!” Murray wells, leaping for good measure.
Third set: Murray* 7-5, 4-6, 3-2 Del Potro (*denotes server): This is good stuff from Murray, who confidently moves into a 40-0 lead. He holds to love, serving with more accuracy than he was managing earlier.
Updated
Third set: Murray 7-5, 4-6, 2-2 Del Potro* (*denotes server): Del Potro is serving with new balls now. They don’t know what they’ve let themselves in for. Imagine being a tennis ball, learning you’ve been given a Del Potro match, asking your mates what it’s like. “Oh, he doesn’t hit it that hard. You’ll be fine! Although, remember Gary? He got it bad once. Never saw him again actually.” Then they chuckle darkly. That would be a good idea, wouldn’t it. An interview with a tennis ball that’s been on the end of a Del Potro forehand, the world’s most terrifying experience. As for this game ... he loses the first point but holds to 15.
Third set: Murray* 7-5, 4-6, 2-1 Del Potro (*denotes server): Del Potro wins the first point with ... you know how he won it. Murray challenges but the ball was inches in. Murray responds by taking the next two points. He’s been using the drop shot well, variation that’s likely to be effective against Del Potro. He makes it 40-15, watching a smash well, and he holds with a crisp ace down the middle.
Third set: Murray 7-5, 4-6, 1-1 Del Potro* (*denotes server): Del Potro glides into a 30-0 lead, as much as it’s possible for a man as big as him to glide. Then he rockets a forehand on to the line for a 40-0 lead. He holds to 15, volleying smartly. He looks very sweaty. “So if Del Po does win this, will he put it down to the “forehand of God”?” says John Hubbard. “Don’t think he will do it though - Murray has the experience and stamina to win in five sets if need be.”
Third set: Murray* 7-5, 4-6, 1-0 Del Potro (*denotes server): I wondered at the start of the second set how much energy Del Potro had left. His answer was resounding. But it’s fair to ask the question again. How much has he got left in the tank? Because that was a monumental effort. For the sake of entertainment, you’ve got to hope that he’s not run out of juice. For Andy Murray’s sake, you’ve got to hope he’s feeling it a bit. Murray certainly has the legs for a five-setter. And he makes a good start to this set, moving into a 40-0 lead without ceremony. He holds to 15 with a fantastic backhand down the line.
Juan Martin del Potro wins the second set 6-4 to level the final!
Del Potro unleashes a series of murderous forehands. Yet Murray keeps repelling them and eventually Del Potro nets one to make it 0-15. Then Del Potro’s given a time violation for taking too long to serve. He stares furiously at the umpire. There’s a chance he’s going to aim his next forehand at the chair. He thinks better of it, though, and this time manages to outlast Murray, who nets a forehand for 15-all. Soon it’s 30-15, Del Potro finding enough power and width to force Murray to hoick one long. He’s two points from levelling this now. Make that one point. Murray charges the net but Del Potro picks him off with a backhand down the line to earn two set points. He can’t take the first, though, peeling back and netting a forehand to make it 40-30. Murray’s still alive here, just about. And he’s properly in this game when he gives Del Potro some of his own medicine, upping the pace of his forehands, making it deuce when the Argentinian sends a rather desperate forehand long. Work to do here for Del Potro ... who promptly bangs an ace down the middle to earn a fourth break point. Or has he? Murray challenges ... and it was out by 0.0000001mm. Del Potro maintains his composure, however, and he does earn that fourth set point in the end, rasping a forehand out of reach. This is a truly special match. And we’re going to have at least two more sets: Del Potro’s had enough of Murray’s demented resistance, tearing a forehand down the line to take the second set! You can’t say he’s not deserved it. What next?
Updated
Second set: Murray* 7-5, 4-5 Del Potro (*denotes server): With Murray serving to stay in the second set, he loses the first point, unable to do anything more than send a backhand long. Del Potro’s on fire at the moment and another miss from Murray makes it 0-30. Del Potro is hitting it so deep and it’s throwing Murray’s balance. Two wasteful forehand misses from Del Potro allow Murray back in at 30-all but the Argentinian has a set point when the world No2 tamely nets a forehand. Murray decides now’s the time to drop shot. Badly. Del Potro gets there. He goes right at Murray – who adjusts incredibly to prod a backhand past him for deuce. Oof, that was close. Soon Murray has a game point. He thinks he’s nailed an ace. Apparently it kissed the top of the net. He disagrees with the umpire but there’s not much he can do beyond getting on with winning the point. Which he does when Del Potro nets a forehand. Murray clings on. Del Potro will serve to level the match. What’s Murray got up his sleeve?
Second set: Murray 7-5, 3-5 Del Potro* (*denotes server): When Del Potro hits a forehand, it stays hit. It’s like a right hook from Mike Tyson, scorching through the court. Two of them, plus a thudding serve, makes it 40-0. This is too much even for Murray’s retrieval skills and he holds to love.
Second set: Murray* 7-5, 3-4 Del Potro (*denotes server): Del Potro lets Murray off the hook on the first point, hooking what should have been a simple forehand wide after reaching a Murray volley. Murray accepts his good fortune and aces for 30-0. Another one makes it 40-15. He holds with a third.
Second set: Murray 7-5, 2-4 Del Potro* (*denotes server): Del Potro holds his hand up in apology after benefiting from a fortunate net cord to take the first point. He doesn’t really mean it, of course, he’ll take those all evening. Also in his favour: his first serve. He’s got 89% of them in during this set, a remarkable effort. And he’s in charge at the moment. More huge groundstrokes help him into a 40-15 lead. A blistering forehand is enough for him to hold. He almost took Murray’s arm off with that one. The Argentinians are loving this.
Second set: Murray* 7-5, 2-3 Del Potro (*denotes server): Del Potro’s supporters launch into an extended chant in between games, creating quite the raucous atmosphere. The Brazilians in the crowd don’t like hearing their Argentinian counterparts enjoying themselves so much. But those whistles won’t stop the chanting. They do quieten down when it’s time for Murray to serve with new balls, though, and he’s quickly into a 30-0 lead. He looks in control. Del Potro continues to plug away and he wins the next two points, clawing his way back to 30-all but Murray holds to 30.
Updated
Second set: Murray 7-5, 1-3 Del Potro* (*denotes server): Del Potro holds to 15. A game that just whizzed by. New balls, please!
Second set: Murray* 7-5, 1-2 Del Potro (*denotes server): A stinker of a shot to begin with from Murray, a garbage backhand slice into the net for 0-15. He redeems himself with a forehand pass from right to left for 15-all. Another forehand winner makes it 30-15. He holds to 15 thanks to a couple of misses from Del Potro, who wastes a challenge on the second one. “Arguably the quality that Leyton Hewitt brought to top level tennis as much as anyone was sheer bloody-mindedness,” David Wall says. “Given the traditional UK-Australia sporting rivalry, i don’t know if anyone would acknowledge it but Murray is probably the player who has inherited that legacy more than anyone. It’s a highly under-rated personality trait.”
Second set: Murray 7-5, 0-2 Del Potro* (*denotes server): Are we entirely sure Del Potro isn’t holding a hammer in his right hand? That forehand, it would knock us off our feet. He takes a 30-0 lead. But back comes Murray, who’s got such imagination. A subtle backhand slice drops dead after the first bounce, Del Potro nowhere near it, and a smash makes it 30-all. He’s got a break point when Del Potro nets a surprisingly meek forehand. Yet Murray can’t take it. He’s a touch passive during this rally and Del Potro wins it with a fine volley for deuce. Murray has another chance, however, picking Del Potro off with a backhand lob. Del Potro hangs his head as the ball sails over him. Then he saves the break point with a heatseeker of a forehand down the line.He’s going to have to do it again, though. Murray opens Del Potro up with a drop shot, then whacks a backhand volley past him. But Del Potro saves himself with a big serve out wide, Murray only able to block a backhand long. Eventually he holds. Frustration for Murray, joy for Del Potro.
Updated
Second set: Murray* 7-5, 0-1 Del Potro (*denotes server): That is so tough for Del Potro to take. Given his exertions against Nadal yesterday, the nightmare scenario for him was to lose a long first set tonight, especially after hinting that he was going to snatch it. But that’s what’s happened. A couple of questions come to mind now. One, how much has that taken out of Del Potro? Two, will Murray put his foot on the accelerator now? Let’s see. At 30-all, Murray lazily swipes a forehand down the line wide to give up a break point. He saves it with a piercing forehand for deuce. But Del Potro earns another chance, carving out a second break point by forcing the error from Murray with a big forehand. Yet Murray shows amazing chutzpah by constantly going to the Del Potro forehand throughout the next rally, before winning the point with a drop shot. Del Potro applauds. Then he sets about earning a third break point, challenging correctly when a Murray backhand slice drifts long. Third time lucky? You bet! Murray targets the Del Potro backhand and races to the net, not counting on the big Argentinian walloping a stonking pass down the line! A poor start to the second set from Murray and not for the first time this week.
Andy Murray wins the first set 7-5!
So Juan Martin del Potro is serving to stay in the first set again. He’ll fancy his chances in the tie-break if he can hold here. But Murray looks determined to make life difficult for him, pumping his fist when Del Potro nets a forehand at 15-0. Soon it’s 15-30, Del Potro failing to do enough with a volley, leaving it in the air long enough for Murray to whip a forehand pass beyond him. Suddenly the mood’s changed. Murray returns expertly and he’s got two set points when Del Potro totally mishits his forehand riposte. This is gutsy stuff from Del Potro, though, a heavy second serve that is too much for Murray, who nets a forehand. That’s one set point gone. Can Murray take the second? They trade boulders from the back of the court. Del Potro looks flustered, as though he’s running out of ideas. Murray’s defending superbly. Del Potro changes his approach and decides to come forward. Mistake. The ball’s on Murray’s backhand and he doesn’t miss these, sending a searing pass down the line to claim an epic first set! Murray roars! He’s two sets away from retaining his Olympic title.
“Andy keeping his emotions in check here, in a Masters event at this stage Andy would be in the middle of what I call the MMMM(Murray’sMidMatchMeltdown) when he starts screaming like a demented highland banshee after losing a few games on the trot,” says John McEnerney. Del Po showed he has the heart of a lion against Rafa yesterday but it may have left him with little in the tank. 3 setter to Andy.
Updated
First set: Murray* 6-5 Del Potro (*denotes server): With the spotlight back on Murray, he makes a rocky start, dumping a backhand into the net for 0-15. But he shakes it out of his system with a brilliant, snappy volley that lands just inside the baseline, leaving Del Potro rooted to the spot. A slider of an ace out wide makes it 30-15 and it’s 40-15 when Del Potro misses a forehand by a whisker. But Murray’s work isn’t done yet. He nets a backhand to make it 40-30 and Del Potro senses an opportunity, romping forward to put a volley away for deuce. The Argentinian is looking dejected after missing a backhand slice, though. He can hardly believe he’s sent that one long. He’s let Murray off the hook there and the Scot holds when Del Potro balloons a forehand.
@JacobSteinberg Has anyone called DelPo tennis' fifth Beatle yet? If not then I'm claiming it.
— Martin Cordiner (@McWrites) August 14, 2016
First set: Murray 5-5 Del Potro* (*denotes server): Serving to prolong this first set, Del Potro makes a good start, Murray unable to do anything with an awkward backhand return off a second serve. A Del Potro smash makes it 30-0; a confident backhand volley makes it 40-0. He’s playing some storming tennis now and he holds to love, just what he needed. Ah, what might have been. Ah, what could still be. We must all pray that he stays fit. He’s outstanding. The pressure is on Murray now.
Updated
First set: Murray* 5-4 Del Potro (*denotes server): Murray’s completely lost his rhythm here. Someone’s flicked the switch. He begins this game with a double-fault to fall to 0-15. The next point is a minor classic, both men giving it everything ... but it ends with a stunning winner from Del Potro, a crashing forehand down the line for 0-30. Murray’s in big trouble. His first serve has disappeared. He’s slightly lucky to win the next point. Del Potro challenges a Murray forehand, thinking it’s wide, but the umpire fails to spot the raised arm from the Argentinian. I’m not sure how that’s possible, he’s only 6ft 6in. Told that he didn’t challenge quickly enough, Del Potro has to suck it up and 15-30 becomes 30-all when Murray puts a smash away. That non-challenge had the feel of a Big Moment. Murray can’t kill the game off at 40-30, an errant forehand taking it to deuce, but he holds after belatedly recovering his serve. Del Potro will serve to stay in the first set.
First set: Murray 4-4 Del Potro* (*denotes server): Del Potro dominates the first point with that forehand. That forehand. Swoon. He’s building some momentum. He holds to 15 when Murray hoicks a dismal backhand long. Three straight games for the Argentinian. Murray needs to stop this charge.
First set: Murray* 4-3 Del Potro (*denotes server): The first two points are shared. The next two as well, Del Potro hurtling on to a drop shot and dinking a gorgeous forehand over the net with Murray stranded. Murray’s level has dipped a little here and his first double fault hands Del Potro a break point. Can he take it? He can! Murray nets a backhand to concede a sloppy game and Del Potro is back in this!
“Shhh, don’t tell anyone, but I am 100% with McMahon,” says Matt Dony. “Murray doesn’t really have much to prove, but back-to-back Olympic titles really would be something special. It’s hard to believe that, outside people who follow tennis, he still appears to be underrated. My mum, for one, is still convinced he’s just another plucky loser who gets lucky from time to time. He’ll no doubt go down in history as a great player. And another gold for britain’s ever-increasing tally would be welcome. And yet, Del Potro has quietly become one of the most popular athletes at the games, and for good reason. This is just about as much of a ‘win/win’ situation as I can imagine. At the end of the match, whichever way it goes, I’m going to be happy.”
First set: Murray 4-2 Del Potro* (*denotes server): Looking to steady the ship, Del Potro races into a 40-0 lead, settling a few nerves. Murray threatens to reel him in, though, winning the next two points for 40-30. But Del Potro holds with an ace out wide.
First set: Murray* 4-1 Del Potro (*denotes server): Looking to consolidate the break, Murray wins the first point, dropping a backhand pass down at Del Potro’s feet. The Argentinian can only send a backhand wide to make it 15-0. Soon it’s 30-0, Murray spearing a forehand past Del Potro at the net. A pinpoint Murray backhand makes it 40-0 and he holds to love.
Updated
First set: Murray 3-1 Del Potro* (*denotes server): Those first three games lasted 27 minutes. We could be here for a while. Though I suspect that Del Potro might fancy a few shorter ones. He’s looking a little vulnerable when Murray wins the first two points here; a massive backhand down the line makes it 0-30. Then Del Potro crashes a forehand long as he tries to lay down the hammer, giving up three break points. Murray only needs one, Del Potro sending a backhand long.
Updated
First set: Murray* 2-1 Del Potro (*denotes server): Things I’d rather be hit by more than a Del Potro forehand: a moving train, a punch to the jaw from a gorilla, a falling grand piano. He wins the first point thanks to a coruscating missile. Then a moving security guard distracts during Murray during the next point and he loses it as Del Potro comes out on top at the net. Murray wins the next one with a superb volley but he’s down 15-40 when he drags a backhand lob wide. Here’s an opportunity for Del Potro. Two break points. He can’t take the first, netting a forehand. He’s disgusted with himself. Yet he’s feeling better about life when Murray nets a backhand. Murray’s lead didn’t last long. Immense character from Del Potro.
First set: Murray 2-0 Del Potro* (*denotes server): Murray is on the front foot immediately in this game, rattling into a 0-30 lead as Del Potro nets a forehand. Here’s an opening. Yet he shows his mettle by fighting back to 30-all, smashing and then coming out on top in an attritional rally as Murray nets a forehand. Yet Murray earns a break point, the first of the match, bludgeoning a backhand from left to right and charging forward to put an overhead away. Del Potro saves it with a monstrous forehand for deuce, though. Deuce. That’s the cue for the floodlights to come on. This game is taking a while, Del Potro unable to finish it off, missing a couple of forehand, and he’s facing another break point after netting a low backhand slice. Again, however, Del Potro saves it, crunching a forehand down the line to force the error from Murray. Anything short is going to be gobbled up by the big Argentinian, but he’s facing a third break point after plonking a forehand wide. And there’s no escape this time. Murray is positive and attacking here, in charge thanks to a backhand from left to right, and he breaks thanks to a punchy volley.
“Evening Jacob,” says Simon McMahon. “Contrasting semi final wins should give Murray the edge tonight over five sets, though of course you write Del Potro off at your peril, and it would take a heart of stone not to develop a warm glow if the Argentinian prevails. But since losing in Paris, Andy appears to have achieved a Djokovic like level of consistency and excellence. To become a double Olympic singles champion would cement his place as one of the all time greats. Come on Andy!”
Updated
First set: Murray* 1-0 Del Potro (*denotes server): The Olympic men’s singles final opens with Team GB’s Andy Murray serving and there are huge cheers when he nets a backhand at 15-0. Del Potro is going to enjoy a lot of support here. Then again, he won’t get any love from the Brazilians in the crowd. The game goes to 30-all, Murray duffing another backhand, an attempt at a drop shot this time, but he wins the next point for a 40-30 lead and holds when Del Potro blooters a forehand long.
Tok! Tok! Tok! They’re knocking up.
Here come the players! Juan Martin del Potro walks out first to a huge cheer. When Andy Murray emerges, there are boos and whistles from the Argentinian fans. But having won the Davis Cup in Belgium last year, that’s unlikely to faze Murray.
Updated
It’s almost time for this evening’s main event, the men’s gold medal match. It’s 27 degrees in Rio, it’s sunny and there’s a sizeable Argentinian presence on Centre Court, here to support Juan Martin del Potro. But he’s going to have to be outstanding to beat Andy Murray.
Kei Nishikori wins bronze for Japan!
It’s Japan’s first Olympic medal in the tennis since 1920! He nails a serve, Nadal sends his return wide and Nishikori wins 6-2, 6-7, 6-3! Nishikori looked down and out after blowing the second set but he recovered magnificently in the decider!
Updated
Kei Nishikori is about to serve for a bronze medal at 5-3 in the third set. He’s been here before, though.
Over on Court 1, meanwhile, Kei Nishikori has broken in the third set of the men’s bronze medal match. He leads 4-1 against Rafa Nadal after discovering a second wind.
Mixed doubles gold for USA! Mixed doubles silver for USA! USA! USA! USA!
With Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jack Sock leading 9-6 in the champion’s tie-break, a Venus Williams serve is met by a belting forehand down the line by Sock! For a moment, they both think it’s in. Mattek-Sands flings her racket to the ground in celebration. But Sock is shaking his head. He thinks it was long. He’s smiling ruefully. Because he’s right. Long. 9-7. But they have two more gold medal points. Williams serves again. And she’s forced on the defensive. Williams and Rajeev Ram hang in the point but Sock’s on top with a fierce forehand – and Williams can only net a backhand! What drama! That’s it! It’s all over! Jack Sock and Bethanie Mattek-Sands are Olympic champions! Williams and Ram settle for silver. It finishes 6-7, 6-1, 10-7 to Mattek-Sands and Sock.
Updated
That long break seems to have worked wonders for Nishikori. He holds to lead 2-1 in the third set.
Mattek-Sands and Sock have won the second set of the mixed doubles final 6-1. It’s an all-American classic on Centre Court! They’ll settle this with a champion’s tie-break.
Updated
After a very long comfort break, Kei Nishikori finally returns. Rafa Nadal is shaking his head and there are boos from the stands on Court 1. The third set will get going at last.
In other news...
Nice to have time to catch up with friends and enjoy the concert of a great performer and artist @enriqueiglesias 😄🎤 pic.twitter.com/lpNH1WvaCP
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) August 14, 2016
Rafa Nadal has run away with the tie-break to force a third set! Nishikori served for this match twice. He’s bottled this. He led 6-2, 5-2 - and now look. Nadal is the massive favourite to win the bronze now.
Nishikori holds at last to force a second-set tie-break. If only he could have done this 20 minutes ago.
On Centre Court, meanwhile, Venus Williams and Rajeev Ram have won that tie-break to take the first set 7-6. They’ve got their sights set on mixed doubles gold!
What a choke from Nishikori! A double-fault on break point and Nadal breaks again! It’s 5-all in the second set!
The mixed doubles final has gone to a first-set tie-break. There’s a huge crowd there to see it!
Mixed doubles #tennis final on at moment at #Rio2016. Estimate stadium is 5 per cent full... https://t.co/zrQi3AHeq8 pic.twitter.com/EstD90wzzD
— Nick Butler (@NickJMButler) August 14, 2016
Nadal, the fighter’s fighter, holds. Nishikori leads 6-2, 5-4. He’s going to have to serve it out. Again.
Is this the start of a famous fightback? With Kei Nishikori serving for the bronze, Rafa Nadal claws back one of those breaks! Nishikori was so tight and Nadal took advantage with his third break point, defending brilliantly before outwitting Japan’s finest with a lob down the line. There’s still a long way back for Nadal, though, given that he trails 6-2, 5-3.
A lovely backhand down the line from Nishikori and he breaks again. Nadal looks totally drained. Nishikori is bossing this. He’ll serve for the bronze medal at 6-2, 5-2!
It’s looking grim for Rafa Nadal on Court 1. Nishikori zings a backhand down the line to consolidate a break in the second set. The fourth seed leads 6-2, 3-1.
If you want an idea of how well Murray played against Nishikori, well, here you go.
Le point du match entre @andy_murray et @keinishikori juste énorme ! #Rio2016 #tennis (via @beaniash) pic.twitter.com/9DH7SJVO9J
— We Love Tennis (@Welovetennis) August 13, 2016
Meanwhile we’re waiting for the mixed doubles gold medal match to finish on Centre Court. Whatever happens, we’re going to have American champions because its Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jack Sock versus Venus Williams and Rajeev Ram. USA! USA! USA!
The men’s bronze medal match is taking place now and Kei Nishikori has taken the first set 6-2 off a presumably exhausted Rafa Nadal. There’s a wonderful chance for Japan to nab a medal on Court 1.
Preamble
Hello. Funny to think that a player who is ranked 141st in the world these days won his first grand slam three years before Andy Murray, the world No2. But that’s a reductive way of looking at things, isn’t it. Because the world No141 these days is the mighty Juan Martin del Potro and isn’t it agonising to think wistfully of all the classic matches and rivalries that could have been, but for the debilitating left wrist injury that threatened to end the big Argentinian’s career. Surgery in 2014 didn’t work, leaving him in pain, and there were times when Del Potro thought about giving up during the long, thankless slog back to fitness, a depressing thought for the numerous fans of a man whose thunderous forehand could topple the Great Wall of China.
As he became in danger of becoming the forgotten man of the tennis world, it was worth keeping in mind that Del Potro became the first player to beat Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer when he won the US Open at the age of 20 in 2009, beating the latter thanks to a brutal show of force in a five-set final, and also how he pushed Novak Djokovic to the limit in their Wimbledon semi-final in 2013. Have no doubt, he had the game to take it to the toughest guys on the men’s tour. He surely would have won more than one slam.
But the good news is that after returning to the tour earlier this summer, it appears that Del Potro still has the weapons to trouble and beat the best. He beat Stan Wawrinka at Wimbledon, stunned Djokovic in the first round here and, after an Olympian effort against Nadal in last night’s semi-final, he stands on the verge of winning gold for Argentina, four years after winning bronze in London. You did not need to be a mind reader to understand why Del Potro was so emotional after winning a third-set tie-break against Nadal and no one would begrudge him victory today.
No one, that is, apart from Andy Murray, who is bidding to become the first person in in the 15 Olympic Games at which tennis has had full recognition to win back to back titles. The defending champion, who crushed Federer in the final four years ago, says that he is in the form of his life. It is a month since he claimed his second Wimbledon title, Djokovic and Federer are out of the picture for the time being and Murray is on a run of 17 consecutive wins, the longest of his career. After scares against Fabio Fognini and Steve Johnson earlier in the week, Murray was dominant in his semi against Kei Nishikori, winning in straight sets, and he might prove too strong for Del Potro in this one-off five-setter. One thought persists in all of this, though: what a shame it is that this is their first meeting since an Indian Wells quarter-final back in 2013. Del Potro won that day.
Play begins at: 3pm in Rio, 7pm BST.
Updated
