Juan Martin del Potro reached his first Olympic final with a 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (5) win over Rafael Nadal at the Rio Olympics.
Del Potro breaks in the first game, Nadal breaks twice, including the last game of the set to jump out in front
This much-anticipated semifinal match started with del Potro breaking Nadal's serve, the Spaniard wasting a 30-15 lead. 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. In the eleventh game, Nadal held for a 6-5 lead after being forced to deuce. When del Potro served to stay in the set for the second time, Nadal responded by playing his finest game of the match so far, breaking del Potro's serve to 15 as the 2008 Olympic champion took the opening set 7-5 in 56 minutes to take a one game lead.
Del Potro gets early break again, makes it stand up to win the second set, force a third
Nadal began the second set with a hold after del Potro pushed him to deuce. In the third game, del Potro was finally able to take advantage of Nadal's second serve. At 30-40, he ripped a forehand winner to break the Spaniard's serve for a 2-1 lead. Nadal was wasteful after having a 30-0 lead in the game.
One break looked like it would be enough as del Potro's serve was clicking and both players held for the next six games. At 5-4, del Potro served for the set and he clinched one vital hold, the most important one when Nadal's backhand went far out. Del Potro wrapped up the second set 6-4 in 48 minutes and the match was now level at one set all.
Del Potro gets late break, Nadal breaks back, del Potro takes the tiebreaker to advance to the gold medal match
It was hard to tell who was favorite in the deciding set as the match was being played on even terms. The first big moment came in the second game when del Potro survived a ten-minute game to hold, saving a break point and leveling the set at 1-1. In the fifth game Nadal held, but it was an epic struggle, having to save two break points in an 11 point game to take a 3-2 lead. In the ninth game, del Potro got the break he needed. At 0-40, Nadal saved the first break point with the aid of a lucky net cord, but a wayward lob that went long handed the Argentine a 5-4 lead.
Nadal was desperate, his back up against the wall and he managed to respond with a break to love, a sensational forehand down the line past a stunned del Potro, who ventured into the net, to level the set at 5-5. In his next service game, Nadal again dug himself another 0-40 hole, but this time, he clawed his way out of it to hold, the Argentine slicing a backhand just wide for a 6-5 lead.
The pressure was all on Del Potro now and he responded, holding to love to force a tiebreaker. In the breaker, del Potro got the early mini-break on the very first point when Nadal's backhand went wide. The server held the next nine points and now with a 6-4 lead, del Potro held two match points. Nadal stayed alive, saving the first, but when one last Nadal cross-court forehand went wide on the second as del Potro won the tiebreaker 7-5 to advance to the gold medal match, the first Argentine to play for tennis gold.
Murray the final opponent for del Potro
Del Potro will face defending Olympic champion Andy Murray, who has been the best player in the world the last two months, riding a 17-match win streak, winning titles at Queen's Club and Wimbledon. The Brit has won five of their seven previous meetings, but del Potro won their last encounter in the quarterfinals of Indian Wells. Murray also has history against him as no player has ever repeated as Olympic champion nor has any player won two singles gold medals.