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Argentine Potro overcomes Nadal to meet Murray in Rio Olympic tennis final

Xinhua, August 14, 2016 Adjust font size:

Former world number four Juan Del Potro edged past title favorite Rafael Nadal in a marathon singles semifinal at Rio Olympics here on Saturday.

Del Potro, currently ranked 141st in the world, revenged the doubles' second round loss to eventual winner Nadal, winning 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) to set up a men's tennis final meeting on Sunday with defending champion Andy Murray of Britain, who overpowered Japanese Kei Nishikori 6-1, 6-2 in the other semifinal.

Del Potro, whose world rankings dropped drastically due to absence with a wrist injury, nailed the win on the first match point.

Del Potro who produced one of the biggest surprise of the tournament eliminating world number one Novak Djokovic in the first round, capitalized on the Spaniard's fatigue as Nadal, along with Marc Lopez, labored to beat Romanian pair Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in two and a half hours Friday night.

Nadal missed the London 2012 and was the winner of Beijing 2008 singles. Endit