Rafael Nadal is within touching distance of another Olympic singles medal after beating Thomaz Bellucci to make the semi-finals in Rio de Janeiro.
After losing the first set (by committing 10 unforced errors and generating only two winners), Rafa broke serve in game four of the second set and never looked back, winning 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 on Center Court. He became the eighth player in the Open Era to register at least 800 career singles match wins.
After the match, Rafa said:
I don’t even know how things are going so well because I didn’t do any preparation for the tournament. (via AP)
In Latin America the people are very passionate so that’s something very, very special to be in the middle of the court like this. (via Tennis Now)
2016 Rio Olympics – Tennis – Quarterfinal – Men’s Singles Quarterfinals – Olympic Tennis Centre – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 12/08/2016. Rafael Nadal (ESP) of Spain receives medical attention during his match against Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) of Brazil. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
El tenista español Rafael Nadal sirve ante el brasileño Thomaz Bellucci hoy, viernes 12 de agosto de 2016, durante los cuartos de final de las competencias de tenis que se disputan en el Centro Olímpico de Tenis en el marco de los Juegos Olímpicos Río 2016, Río de Janeiro. Nadal ganó (2-6, 6-4 y 6-2) y clasificó para la lucha por las medallas en el cuadro individual masculino de Río 2016. EFE / Fernando Maia
Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return to Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil during their Rio 2016 Olympic Games Men’s Singles match at the Olympic Tennis Centre in the Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 12 August 2016. (España, Brasil, Tenis) EFE/EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS
Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates during the match against Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil in the Men’s Singles Quarterfinal on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Tennis Centre on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Aug. 11, 2016 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images South America)
El tenista español Rafael Nadal celebra tras vencer al brasileño Thomaz Bellucci hoy, viernes 12 de agosto de 2016, durante los cuartos de final de las competencias de tenis que se disputan en el Centro Olímpico de Tenis en el marco de los Juegos Olímpicos Río 2016, Río de Janeiro. EFE / Fernando Maia
2016 Rio Olympics – Tennis – Quarterfinal – Men’s Singles Quarterfinals – Olympic Tennis Centre – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 12/08/2016. Rafael Nadal (ESP) of Spain celebrates after winning his match against Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) of Brazil. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
2016 Rio Olympics – Tennis – Quarterfinal – Men’s Singles Quarterfinals – Olympic Tennis Centre – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 12/08/2016. Rafael Nadal (ESP) of Spain celebrates after winning his match against Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) of Brazil. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
2016 Rio Olympics – Tennis – Quarterfinal – Men’s Singles Quarterfinals – Olympic Tennis Centre – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 12/08/2016. Rafael Nadal (ESP) of Spain celebrates after winning his match against Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) of Brazil. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
Rafa will face Juan Martin del Potro (not Andy Murray as I thought the last four days) for a place in the gold medal match.
Rafa and Marc Lopez are scheduled to play in the men’s doubles final later today (not before 7PM local time, midnight CET, 11PM BST, 6PM EDT).
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Rafa, you are a two-time Olympian champion. Get ready for tomorrow’s battle against Kei. Sorry for you that the singles’ gold proved elusive but you still have a chance for another medal. I know your family is so very proud of you. Fight on!
RAFA THE OLYMPIAN
Il est bien là notre grand champion vive rafa 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Rafa and Marc what a proud duo you are for your country, and making your family and country and all the fans so proud of you both.
ALl the best Rafa for your Portro game,
Love and prayers,
AlaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX
It is very annoying that here in Aus, we don,t get to see much Tennis , at the Oloympics they seem to concentrate on other sports that only feature Australians, I have been lucky to see Rafa play an win against Gilles Simon and that is all and I had to stay up till, 1.30am to see that It,s not fair .,Having said that it,s great to see Rafa at least get a medal but really hoping he can get Gold Vamos Rafa
Hi Joan in Australia, we also have the same grumble, only the very last 8 matches have been shown and the other sports get so much more coverage, we have 12 channels on olympics and this is the situation. Sad but grateful for the few we have seen
Rafa+Marc=GOLD
CONGRATULATIONS CHAMPS!!
RAFA & MARC ROCK RIO
RAFA, Tecau and Mergea are not going down easily so get your game faces on (snarls and scowls) and ramp up the pressure. Tomorrow you’ve got to play DelPo who beat your nemesis in the first round. Get cracking!
RAFA RIO MEDALIST
Congrats-great to see that fighting spirit. So much joy evident in your attitude and
body language. Fight on and enjoy every golden moment!😎🇪🇸👊💪👏❤️💃🏻
Have been loving the tennis and seeing so much of Nadal but I will be happy when it finishes so normal sleeping pattern can return , hours sleep is not good. I am surprised that the tennis was only shown on the red button in the UK , especially when Murray is probably a dead cert to give us a medal . Couldn’t record of the red button else I could have enjoyed watching Mast a reasonable hour.Shouldnt complain as it’s great to see him back and playing some fantastic tennis. Come on Rafa and Marc you can do this
Bravo Rafa you can do it is your time for you.Vamosssssssssssssssssssss you are the best
@jaybeer Rafa said he doesn’t care which medal he wins. Of course he would hope for gold but to medal at all would be a great achievement. For him to have advanced this far is just incredible considering his injury, lack of tournament play since the FO, and virtually no practice.
RAFA ROCKS
Think of Delpo when you mention the injury and lack of play!!!
@jaybeer At first I thought you were so upset because Rafa was off tour. I thought your angry comments reflected the extent to which you missed him.
Now that Rafa is playing on the biggest stage of the world you still seem angry, insisting that only a gold medal is worth anything and then you go on to insult a member who asked if you had a medal. Not nice. Also, it appears that Rafa can’t do enough for you. Once you accept Rafa for the champion he is maybe your anger will subside.
You asked me to consider DelPotro….but I have. I’ve always liked him, and missed him being on tour. Once he beat DJ in the first round I have been keeping a close eye on him feeling that he could pose a threat to Rafa were they to meet. Today is that day.
DelPotro has played in tournaments while Rafa was recuperating. His wrist is still not 100% but he is playing well. He is also a former number four. But I don’t take for granted that he will win.
Rafa’s wrist is still not 100% but he and Marc have already won gold in doubles. Rafa is just a miracle worker. I have had to vanquish my fears (about his wrist) and just support him. Not easy.
Both Rafa and DelPo will be tired coming into their match today. For you to allude to DelPo as the most likely winner is not giving Rafa enough credit. Just my opinion.
RAFA TWO-TIME GOLD MEDALIST
Félicitation Rafa tu mérite de gagner la médaille d,or.en double et et en solo.Good Luck
Margo – look at the name of the 1st post telling us all rafa is playing delpo. S/he is calling him or her self ‘notomuslims’. The cretin
If RNF does not block that person there is nothing I can do about it.
What fans can do is just totally ignore him/her. No comments, no replies, nothing. You could also complain to Rafa on his Twitter account if you wish. If that doesn’t work maybe the press would be interested.
Thank you both for pointing out about that person. We have deleted his/her comment and blocked that person.
You’re very welcome but credit goes to Saira who first mentioned it in a comment questioning why such a “name” would be allowed. I agree that such an inflammatory “name” on a website dedicated to a worldwide-known athlete of Rafa’s reputation and calibre has no place here. Thank you for blocking said account.