We’re well through multiple disciplines at the Olympic Games, and midway through the games, tennis is well and truly underway. Now at the quarter-final stage of the men’s singles, fans have already seen a number of massive upsets. The biggest one, of course, came in the first round as top seed and gold medal prospect Novak Djokovic tumbled in straight sets to a resurgent Juan Martin del Potro.
Women’s top seed and defending Olympic champion Serena Williams also crashed out in a straight sets loss to Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, although obviously struggling with a shoulder injury, the World No. 1 seemed out of sorts in her match.
Rafael Nadal resurgent
Djokovic’s early exit opened up the field significantly, with 2008 singles gold winner Rafael Nadal progressing to the finals of the men’s doubles with partner Marc Lopez, meaning he is assured a medal at RIo 2016.
Taxed in the first set by Gilles Simon, the Spaniard came back to take a straight sets win over the Frenchman; he got a bit nervy during that match, but in the end held his composure for a win.
Partnering Marc Lopez, he also defeated the Canadian combine of doubles Grand Slam champion Daniel Nestor and compatriot Vasek Pospisil, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (4).
Murray could also win double medals
Andy Murray, the firm favourite to win gold here after the early exit of Novak Djokovic, is fresh off a title win at Wimbledon and has been in scintillating form all year. Also the defending singles champion, Murray crashed out of the men’s doubles with brother Jamie, but is through to the quarter-finals at the mixed doubles with Heather Watson; he had a bit of a scare in the singles against Italian giant-killer Fabio Fognini, who scalped the second set off the Scot.
He eventually came back to hold down the Italian for a three-set victory, and will face Steve Johnson of the United States in the quarter-finals.
Del Potro returns?
After single-handedly opening up the Olympic field as he ousted Novak Djokovic from the singles, Argentine ace Juan Martin del Potro has taken a series of strong wins to book a quarter-final berth. Up against Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, Del Potro will be the favourite to win. Although Bautista Agut has won the pair’s only previous match – played at the Australian Open of 2014, Del Potro took his rival to a long 5 set battle. Given his form here, the Argentine could well progress to the semis with the momentum he has built up.
Mirza-Bopanna cruise to quarter-finals
The combine of Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna, seeded fourth in the mixed doubles, took a win over John Peers and Samantha Stosur in straight sets yesterday, winning 7-5, 6-4. Both players served well in their Olympic opener together, and are now up against the combine of British No. 1s Andy Murray and Heather Watson; that will be a difficult struggle for the pair, and having already crashed out of the men’s and women’s doubles respectively, they will have to put up a tenacious battle against
What is the foot injury that has troubled Rafael Nadal over the years? Check here
