Andy Murray wins Olympic tennis gold for Great Britain
Britain’s Andy Murray became the first tennis player to win two Olympic singles titles by beating Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro in Rio.
Murray needed just over four hours to win 7-5 4-6 6-2 7-5 and secure Team GB’s fifth gold medal of the day and 15th of a brilliant Olympic Games in Rio.
Murray’s win comes five weeks after he claimed his second Wimbledon title and four years after London 2012 success.
Both men looked exhausted in the fourth set of a gruelling four-hour contest, with Murray breaking down in tears after finishing off his gritty opponent.
The crowd on Centre Court were boisterous throughout, with plenty of Argentine support for 27-year-old Del Potro, although emotions did spill over near the climax when two fans were ejected.
Murray said the final was one of the toughest he had played in and cast doubt on the chances of winning a third gold in Tokyo in 2020.
“Four years is a long time and so many things can change,” he said. “Who knows about Tokyo? At 33, I’m not sure I’ll be at the same level.”
Del Potro’s silver medal signifies his continued return to form, with his past three seasons disrupted by a wrist injury.
“Mentally I can only imagine how frustrating that must have been to keep going through the same problem and having to try and come back,” said Murray.
“He deserves a lot of credit and he should be very proud.”
Del Potro beat world number one Novak Djokovic in the first round despite being stuck in a lift for 40 minutes before the match.
The 2009 US Open champion and London 2012 bronze medallist then defeated 2008 champion Rafael Nadal in an epic three-hour semi-final a day before facing Murray.
“I left the last of my toenails on the court,” said Del Potro. “I was tremendously tired. It was the crowd that made me keep running.”
He added: “When I look at my medal I’m so happy for that, but I’ve just lost a great final against Andy and I was close to the gold medal.
“He played better in the important moments and is a great champion.”
In Murray, Del Potro came up against a player on a career-defining run in the final.
After inspiring Britain to a first Davis Cup win in 79 years in November, Murray was voted the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year, before reaching the Australian and French Open finals and winning Wimbledon for the second time.
He also became a father earlier this year and led GB out at the opening ceremony of Rio 2016 as his country’s flag bearer.
On the court, he has lost just one of his past 30 matches, a run stretching back six months, and has been world number two since November, barring a one-week drop to third in May.
Just saw!! What a day!!!! @andy_murray you legend!!! #TeamGB #Rio2016
— Johanna Konta (@JohannaKonta) August 15, 2016
What an amazing year for @andy_murray -1st Wimbledon and now the GOLD.What a match Delpo played!!! And the best embrace EVER at the net:)
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) August 15, 2016
