The Murray vs Nishikori match is scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m. ET at Centre Court followed by the Nadal vs Del Potro showdown.
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Nadal’s busy schedule has included winning gold in the men’s doubles on his return from injury.
“Maybe he’s not (enjoying) the best time of his career”, Bellucci said, “but he’s playing really well”. Murray has now won 30 of his last 34 sets and continues to make a strong case for the top player in the world title.
However, a semifinal blockbuster match with del Potro, who defeated Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut 7-5 7-6 (4), could threaten any of Nadal’s hopes for another Olympic glory.
British defending Olympic men’s singles champion Andy Murray, the No. 2 seed, blitzed through the first set but then had to battle tooth-and-nail to defeat the American Steve Johnson 6-0, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2). That same formula worked against Nadal, with 18 of del Potro’s 19 groundstroke winners coming off his preferred wing.
This will be the last Olympic tournament, Nadal will attend before retiring that is why he is well motivated and very determined in achieving another Olympic gold medal after being victorious in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In London in 2012, Del Potro played another epic semi-final against Roger Federer, which the Swiss finally won 19-17 in the deciding set. Things were relatively calm until the fifth game with the Spaniard breaking to love, getting off to a good start when del Potro double faulted.
“It would mean an bad lot”, Rose said.
Nadal cleaned things up in the second, though, and while he did get broken again while serving for it at 5-3, he broke right back with a running cross-court forehand passing victor to force a third.
Nadal, who will face Kei Nishikori for the bronze medal, paid tribute to Del Potro.
Rose made two eagles in the opening five holes Saturday and did a little shimmy after making a 10-foot par putt at the end for a 6-under 65, giving him a one-shot lead over Stenson going into the final round – the medal round – at Olympic Golf Course.
“I am satisfied. I did my best”.
The court favours Nadal slightly, but what we have the seen from the tall Argentinian so far is that his forehand can penetrate through even the slowest of hard courts.
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“I didn’t expect to reach the final, beating Djokovic and Rafa”, del Potro said, “but I did, and I get a medal, and it’s wonderful for me”. “For me it’s about trying to win more medals for the country and the team”.
