Kei Nishikori defeated Rafael Nadal in three sets on Sunday to take bronze in men’s singles.
A tired-looking Rafa lacked the precision he had employed so often throughout the tournament, hitting shots into the net or sending them wide. Though he battled back from a 5-2 deficit to win the second set, he couldn’t sustain it into the third.
2008 champion was below his best, that three hour epic with Del Potro had really taken it out of him. Nishikori won 6-2, 6-7(1), 6-3.
Rafa said that he is satisfied with his performance during Rio Olympics:
I have given all and more.
He admitted that Nishikori was better player on the court today, but criticized his break.
In worrying news ahead of the US Open, Rafa said the injury was still a problem.
The wrist is not perfect. It bothers me when I hit the forehand. The serve, the backhand – nothing else bothers me.
The truth is, when I hit the forehand, I feel it bothering me a little bit, but without a doubt it’s been a positive week in all aspects. I’ve played for many hours and the wrist at least didn’t get worse.
We have many reasons to smile about – our champ is back and leaves Brazil with a gold medal in men’s doubles for Spain! VAMOS RAFA!
El tenista español Rafael Nadal ante el japonés Kei Nishikori durante un partido de la competencia de tenis de los Juegos Olímpicos Río 2016 por la medalla de bronce hoy, 14 de agosto de 2016, en el Centro Olímpico de Tenis en Río de Janeiro. EFE/LEONARDO MUÑOZ
2016 Rio Olympics – Tennis – Final – Men’s Singles Bronze Medal Match – Olympic Tennis Centre – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 14/08/2016. Rafael Nadal (ESP) of Spain in action against Kei Nishikori (JPN) of Japan. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
2016 Rio Olympics – Tennis – Final – Men’s Singles Bronze Medal Match – Olympic Tennis Centre – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 14/08/2016. Rafael Nadal (ESP) of Spain reacts during match against Kei Nishikori (JPN) of Japan. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
El tenista español Rafael Nadal ante el japonés Kei Nishikori durante un partido de la competencia de tenis de los Juegos Olímpicos Río 2016 por la medalla de bronce hoy, 14 de agosto de 2016, en el Centro Olímpico de Tenis en Río de Janeiro. EFE/Fernando Maia
2016 Rio Olympics – Tennis – Final – Men’s Singles Bronze Medal Match – Olympic Tennis Centre – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 14/08/2016. Rafael Nadal (ESP) of Spain reacts during match against Kei Nishikori (JPN) of Japan. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
2016 Rio Olympics – Tennis – Final – Men’s Singles Bronze Medal Match – Olympic Tennis Centre – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 14/08/2016. Rafael Nadal (ESP) of Spain reacts during match against Kei Nishikori (JPN) of Japan. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
Julian Finney/Getty Images
Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates a point against Japan’s Kei Nishikori during their men’s singles bronze medal tennis match at the Olympic Tennis Centre of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016. / AFP / JAVIER SORIANO
Julian Finney/Getty Images
2016 Rio Olympics – Tennis – Final – Men’s Singles Bronze Medal Match – Olympic Tennis Centre – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 14/08/2016. Rafael Nadal (ESP) of Spain in action against Kei Nishikori (JPN) of Japan. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
Julian Finney/Getty Images
Julian Finney/Getty Images
Spain’s Rafael Nadal waves after losing to Japan’s Kei Nishikori in their men’s singles bronze medal tennis match at the Olympic Tennis Centre of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016. / AFP / JAVIER SORIANO
Sources: NBC, AP
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You played really well, best in a long time, in the early rounds and even up to the time you won gold in doubles. But so many matches in such a short time finally took its toll. It did on Delpo too as he didn’t have enough in the tank to bring down Murray. Rest and take it easy in Cincy – best of luck, In my book you are truy the G.O.A.T.
LOVE YOU DEAR, FOR THE LOVELY MATCHES YOU GAVE US. WE AS FANS CAN’T ASK FOR MORE. CAN UNDERSTAND YOUR SITUATION.
JUST STAY HEALTHY N FIT. RELAX FOR A FEW DAYS. YOU NEED TO REST.
THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN ON A BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE.
HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON.
LOVEEEEEEEEEEE YOU RAFA ALWAYS.💙💙💙💙💙💙🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
Rafa: With what you have endured in the past 2 years, who would have thought that you would have such an experience in Rio? I kept saying ‘he’s back’. Look at the quality of your playing. Please don’t overdo. We love having you entertain us by your performances around the world. And 22+ plus hours on court in how many days? Incredible! Thanks for all the enjoyment! Get a massage and some rest! Hope to see you in Flushing, Queens,NY.
You won a Gold Metal at these Olympics,you are so amazing!
Get some rest and carry on!
Well Done Rafa ,you,ve had a great tournament, Hope you are not leaving before the Closing ceremony, it,s about the only time I will see you You and Marc did Spain very proud and it was great to see Delpo back again to Congrats to Andy and also Kei, All the best in Cincy and I will be able to see you playing there Vamos Rafa
Dear Rafa: you are a true master of tennis in the best of senses! You may not have won a medal in Singles but you won the hearts and admiration of your fans all over the world with your constant dedication to the sport ! We are very proud of you and send our Love from Palm Beach, Florida ! Luis Sanchez and family
Well done Andy , congrats also to Del Potro what a long match. I don’t think Andy and Rafa will be speaking to much on their flight out together they must both be exhausted and in desperate need of some shut eye. Im so glad to see Rafa and Andy are good friends and have been since they were teenagers, it’s very heart warming . Del Potro is going to be a big threat in future tournaments, Novak has had it his own way for to long , I think he will be very worried, watch out Novak Dell Potro is out to upset your apple cart (AGAIN) 😵
Rafa what a man you are……continuing to fight after your amazing week.
Yes get on that private jet and enjoy Andys great company all the way.
You may never have the opportunity to do that with your your mate Andy again.
praying for you ,
love,
AlaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX
So proud of Rafa, I’m not surprised he just ran out of gas at the match today. Did not get to see it either. NBC/Bravo showing doubles today. So happy Rafa will be in Cincinnati as I will get to see him there. Well done Rafa, very proud of you😍🎾👍
Thank you for telling me the outcome of the match. They didn’t even broadcast it here.
Rafa est une legende vivante ! Ce parcours durant les jo est tout simplement fabuleux ! Quel champion et la cadence folle jusqu’à 2matchs par jour est purement incroyable ! Merci à rafa et à Marc pour ces magnifiques moments de pur bonheur ! 1 médaille d or 👏👏👏et que dire du match contre del Potro qui fut fantastique de très haut niveau merci rafa pour tout ! Son poignet a résisté et je suis impatiente de voir rafa très bientôt sur les cours et continuer à nous faire rêver de sa présence de son beau sourire et surtout de son incroyable talent ! Vive rafa car le tennis sans rafa n est plus vraiment du tennis 👍👍👍👍👍👍❤❤❤❤❤❤
He got the gold with Marc and fought a good fight. Very upset his match was not televised by NBC affiliates. Good luck in Cincinnati. ❤️
I am so bursting with happiness that Rafa along with Marc won the Gold medal for these Rio games. There is no shame at all in missing out on the Bronze when he has fought so hard in his previous matches all of them in 3 sets. Agility gets the best of everyone and he simply did not have enough reserves left to fight for the bronze medal today.
He can be extremely proud that he is a winner of GOLD at 2 Olympics now. 2008 Beijing and 2016 Rio de Janeiro. Rafa is simply the best. Vamos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rafa est une légende vivante ! Cette semaine fut intense avec une cadence incroyable et jusqu’à 2matchs par jour alors là bravo et respect! Son match face à del Potro à été titanesque de haut niveau et tout simplement fabuleux et bien sûr celà s est ressenti aujourd’hui forcément pour la finale! Mais celà n enleve en rien ce parcours fabuleux de rafa durant ces jo! Son poignet a bien résisté et c est de bon augure pour la suite à venir ! Vive rafa et très impatiente de le voir rejouer très bientôt car le tennis sans rafa ce n est plus vraiment du tennis👏👏👏👏👏👏❤❤❤❤vamos rafa
Rafa gave all what he had on the court. Proud of him after this long injury. Take rest and than all the best for the US-Open. Vamos Rafa <3
Rafa are you mad , I have read that you and Andy are sharing a private jet tonight that will take you to Cincinnati. Why are you playing at this tournament when you are so exhausted , your wrist has stood up well with the amount of tennis you have played this week but I hope you are not pushing your luck to far .
Same thought at the same minute… :D.
I actually think this is great news if true. Rafa risks dropping to sixth if Milos plays well in Cincy and he loses points. Fed will not be playing, and Rafa wants to make sure that he is fourth going into the Open. I am surprised by Andy playing too, but again he may want to take advantage of Nivak’s absence.
Could be the reason… Not sure if I should accept it as good news, as I’m convinced his wrist needs a rest. But we’ll know in the next days.
There was nothing like a tennis-god helping today :(. He would have deserved to win a bronze medal so much after that incredible comeback with the last glow of energy he had left in the second set. There should be a fourth medal today. This effort he showed in the second set made me so damn proud of him. Nishi annoyed me. I respect him under normal circumstances, but today I could not. So exhausted by now like I’ve been standing on the cours this week, too. But Im so glad to see him smile in an off court interview right after the match. If it is true that Rafa will flyn with Andy in his private jet directly to Cinncinati, I do not know what to say… (OMG, really?).
I am not unhappy about the bronze and am happy Rafa fought back. It was hard to see him losing badly. A three set loss after 23 hours on court is not a surprise. I am sorry that Rafa seemed so upset during the match. Kei’s long break after the second set was disappointing. Do we know if Rafa really intends to play Cincy? I find it hard to believe, but it would say great things about his wrist.
I’m sorry that result.But you did your best.I proud you. You will go to US open.you can do it.
We still love him all the same. He is a star for at least trying <3
Well Done Rafa xxx