Photo by shinya
A mouth watering quartet of Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, Kei Nishikori and Juan Del Potro will do battle in the Olympic Semi-Finals of the Men’s Singles in Rio De Janeiro.
Nishikori of Japan looked down and out before staging an epic comeback to defeat Gael Monfils of France 7-6(4) 4-6 7-6(6). Monfils held three match points in the deciding tiebreak. “I thought I had nothing to lose from 6-3 down,†said Nishikori, who is looking for his first Olympic medal. Monfils couldn’t close the deal and Nishikori won five consecutive points to take a semi-final berth.
Britain’s Andy Murray will face Nishikori after defeating America’s Steve Johnson in another tough match. Murray cantered to a first set bagel of the big serving American before Johnson got into the match and took the second set to level up proceedings. The final set went to a deciding tiebreak and the defending Olympic champion had to galvanise his reserves to take it comprehensively 7-2.
The 2008 Singles champion, Spain’s Rafael Nadal looked in trouble against Brazilian local Thomaz Bellucci. Nadal dropped the first set 2-6 before clawing his way back to take the second set and ensure a deciding frame. Bellucci, roared on by a partisan crowd couldn’t live up to his end of the bargain and Nadal ran out a 6-2 winner in the final stanza.
Juan Martin Del Potro booked a semi-final showdown with Nadal by defeating Nadal’s countryman Roberto Bautista Agut in two tightly contested sets 7-5 7-6(4).
The Argentine has spent large parts of the last few years with wrist injury problems and ironically he meets an opponent who has been struggling with similar issues.
Semi Final Matches
Andy Murray (2) v Kei Nishikori (4)
H2H: Murray leads 6-1.
2015 Canadian Masters SF Hard Andy Murray Kei Nishikori 6-3 6-0
2015 Madrid Masters SF Clay Andy Murray Kei Nishikori 6-3 6-4
2014 ATP World Tour Finals 11 Hard Kei Nishikori Andy Murray 6-4 6-4
2013 Brisbane SF Hard Andy Murray Kei Nishikori 6-4 2-0 Retired
2012 Australian Open QF Hard Andy Murray Kei Nishikori 6-3 6-3 6-1
2011 Shanghai Masters SF Hard Andy Murray Kei Nishikori 6-3 6-0
Rafael Nadal (3) v Juan Martin Del Potro
H2H: Nadal leads 8-4
2013 Shanghai Masters SF Hard Juan Martin Del Potro Rafael Nadal 6-2 6-4
2013 Indian Wells Masters F Hard Rafael Nadal Juan Martin Del Potro 4-6 6-3 6-4
2011 Spain v Argentina – DC WG – F 0 Clay Rafael Nadal Juan Martin Del Potro 1-6 6-4 6-1 7-6(0)
2011 Wimbledon R16 Grass Rafael Nadal Juan Martin Del Potro 7-6(6) 3-6 7-6(4) 6-4
2011 Madrid Masters R16 Clay Rafael Nadal Juan Martin Del Potro WO
2011 Indian Wells Masters SF Hard Rafael Nadal Juan Martin Del Potro 6-4 6-4
2009 US Open SF Hard Juan Martin Del Potro Rafael Nadal 6-2 6-2 6-2
2009 Canadian Masters QF Hard Juan Martin Del Potro Rafael Nadal 7-6(5) 6-1
2009 Miami Masters QF Hard Juan Martin Del Potro Rafael Nadal 6-4 3-6 7-6(3)
2009 Indian Wells Masters QF Hard Rafael Nadal Juan Martin Del Potro 6-2 6-4
2007 Queen’s R32 Grass Rafael Nadal Juan Martin Del Potro 6-4 6-4
2007 FO – RG R128 Clay Rafael Nadal Juan Martin Del Potro 7-5 6-3 6-2
2007 Miami Masters R16 Hard Rafael Nadal Juan Martin Del Potro 6-0 6-4
Results Wire
4-Kei Nishikori (Japan) beat 6-Gael Monfils (France) 7-6(4) 4-6 7-6(6)
Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentina) beat 10-Roberto Bautista (Spain) 7-5 7-6(4)
3-Rafa Nadal (Spain) beat Thomaz Bellucci (Brazil) 2-6 6-4 6-2
2-Andy Murray (Britain) beat 12-Steve Johnson (U.S.) 6-0 4-6 7-6(2)
Photo by shinya
Read the whole post here.
. But I hope to be wrong 
