Murray Beats Del Potro To Win Second Straight Olympic Gold

Americans Sock, Mattek-Sands Win Mixed Doubles; Puig Captures Gold for Puerto Rico

August 15, 2016 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo Credit: Lee Seidner

In a proper ending to an excellent tennis tournament at the Olympics, Great Britain’s Andy Murray outlasted Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 to capture his second career singles Gold Medal.

Murray won the final four games of the match after trailing 3-5 in the fourth set.

“It was probably one of the hardest matches I have had to play to win a big final,” said Murray. “This was tough emotionally and physically, there were lots of ups and downs. This was much harder to win than London four years ago. The final then was more straightforward. Tonight anything could have happened.”

And it almost did. In this back and forth affair, del Potro, who seemed to be running out of gas towards the end, had a chance to serve out the fourth set and extend the match, but Murray’s return game would not allow the match beyond a fourth set.

Del Potro, who is still working his way into form after missing significant time with injuries, played an incredible tournament, punctuated by his straight-sets upset over world number one Novak Djokovic in the opening round. But Murray was too tough and resilient for the Argentine on Sunday.

“I left the last of my toenails on the court,” del Potro said. “I was tremendously tired. It was the crowd that made me keep running. Silver is like a gold for me. I will remember this for the rest of my life.”

Del Potro’s silver adds to his bronze medal which he won back in 2012, while Murray adds another gold medal to his resume.

“It’s very hard to win two golds,” said Murray, who is the first singles player with two gold medals since the sport was reinstated to the Olympics in 1988. “I am proud to be the first but it hasn’t been easy. Lots can happen in four years.”

Japan’s Kei Nishikori defeated Rafael Nadal of Spain 6-2, 6-7(1), 6-3 to capture the bronze medal on Sunday.

Nadal didn’t leave Rio empty-handed, however, as he and Marc Lopez beat Romania’s Florian Mergea and Horia Tecau 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 to win the Men’s Doubles gold medal.

In Women’s Singles, Puerto Rico’s Monica Puig’s magical run culminated with a gold medal as she defeated Angelique Kerber 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 to become the first Puerto Rican ever to win a gold medal.

“I couldn’t really believe what just happened,” said Puig. “It was such an amazing moment.”

Puig played fearless tennis, ripping 54 winners and playing a dominant third set to secure the gold.

In the bronze medal match, Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic defeated American Madison Keys 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 to capture the medal.

In an all-American Mixed Doubles final, Jack Sock and Bethanie Mattek-Sands outlasted Venus Williams and Rajeev Ram 7-6, 1-6, 10-7 to take home the gold medal.

Despite the defeat, Venus Williams walked away with her fifth Olympic medal, tying the record set by Great Britain’s Kitty McKane.

In the Women’s Doubles final on Sunday, Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina downed the Switzerland duo of Martina Hingis and Timea Bacsinszky 6-4, 6-4 to win gold.  


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Oneononedoubles banner art resize
USTA NTC

January/February 2024 Digital Edition