Andy Murray made history last night, becoming the first man to win Olympic singles tennis gold on two occasions.
The two-time Wimbledon champion defeated Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro in a thrilling 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory.
The four-hour encounter saw both men dig deep in the Rio heat. Serves were frequently broken as Murray eventually took a 3-2 lead in the fourth set before claiming victory.
Double Gold Medalist @andy_murray Extraterrestrial. Raised by a family in Dunblane, Scotland.
— Jamie Murray (@jamie_murray) August 15, 2016
It was an incredible win for the Scotsman, enjoying an incredible year following final appearances at the French and Australian Opens, along with his Wimbledon victory over Milos Raonic.
John Inverdale (BBC) says to Murray that he's the first to win 2 Olympic tennis golds. Murray's response:"Venus and Serena have won 4 each."
— Shane Thomas (@tokenbg) August 15, 2016
There was just one small problem with Murray’s win.
With the Olympic final match a best of five sets occasion like many Open Finals, Murray’s four set victory over Del Potro didn’t conclude until 1.04am GMT.
Presenting “Tale of a Tennis Fan: Descent into Madness”.
Please just win @andy_murray I'm so tired and I need to go to sleep @TeamGB 🇬🇧 #Olympics
— 3angels4sure (@3angels4sure) August 14, 2016
Come on @andy_murray please hurry up and win…I have a long flight tomorrow &I need my sleep!!! ✈️🌞👙🍻🏖
— Sam Mundell. (@elarastar) August 14, 2016
https://twitter.com/Iqra_ifm/status/764972420918833152
I absolutely need to – HAVE TO – sleep, but this is the most remarkable game of #tennis & I can't stop watching. Come on @andy_murray!
— ThisIsSammy (@ThisIsSammy) August 14, 2016
https://twitter.com/Ankaman616/status/764949416067334144
Realistically, anyone who has ever watched an Andy Murray match should have known that he'd find a way to make this a 5-setter.
— Paul McIntosh (@mcintoshpaul) August 14, 2016
Still, the match was a fitting conclusion to a wonderful tennis tournament in Rio. Of course, while fans were tired watching, it doesn’t quite compare to how tired Murray must have been playing.
And with Murray saying “Who knows about Tokyo? At 33, I’m not sure I’ll be at the same level”, this may just be one of the last times we get to savour a late night tennis win with the Great Scot.
Unless the US Open serves up something like the 2012 final again…
So glad I stayed up to watch the Olympic Tennis finals.. What a match!! Massive congrats to Andy Murray 😁
Now time to sleep haha 💎💤— ᴅᴀɴᴛᴅᴍ💎 (@dantdm) August 15, 2016
