Del Potro, ranked 141st in the world, won 5-7 6-4 7-6 (7-5).
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Three operations on his left wrist later, the former US Open champion was left wondering whether he would ever make it back. My emotions are so high after every match.
“I can not describe this moment with words. this crowd, the Brazilian fans are fantastic, and I don’t know if I will be ready for the gold tomorrow”, del Potro said post-match.
Rafael Nadal’s bid for an unprecedented second Olympic singles gold medal ended with a thrill-a-minute semifinal loss to the resurgent Juan Martin del Potro.
Nadal dropped to 0-40 on his own serve in the next game but dug his way out again.
Nadal and del Potro were tied halfway through the third.
“It was tough to play Rafa”, admitted Del Potro, after kissing the Rio 2016 logo and being mobbed by fans courtside. “You never know when you are going to win”. I fought and with great spirit. I’m not really thinking about any of the stuff that goes with that just now.
In the women’s singles bronze medal match, Kvitova beat the United States’ Madison Keys in three sets.
“And I can not say anything else. I just need to try and be in good shape for the final”, he said. I give my best till the last ball but that’s like this.
“I am very satisfied with what I did the whole week”.
Nadal, who won singles gold at the 2008 Beijing Games and has already captured gold in Rio in the men’s doubles, will face off against Japan’s Kei Nishikori for a bronze medal.
Murray leads del Potro by 5-2 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head career singles matchup, but the 27-year-old Argentine won their most recent meeting back in 2013 at the ATP World Tour Masters Indian Wells. Del Potro couldn’t be a more deserving player, coming into these Games with low expectations.
Four years ago, del Potro lost to Roger Federer and won bronze at the 2012 London Games.
“It’s not the medal I wish but still it’s silver, and before I came here I said to myself I would do everything to win a medal and I won a silver one and I’m proud to represent my country and to take an Olympic medal back home”.
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The unseeded Del Potro and Nadal went toe-to-toe for more than three hours on Saturday, including a third set that lasted almost an hour and a half, and hammered ground strokes to all corners of the court in a dramatic and high-quality match from two champions who came in to this hard-court event with loads of questions surrounding their health and form, reports Efe.
