Ending Japan’s 96 Year Wait, Kei Nishikori Beats a ‘Tired’ Nadal

Fourth seed Kei Nishikori won Japan’s first Olympic tennis medal, a bronze in almost a century when he beat Nadal.

Men’s fourth seed Kei Nishikori won Japan’s first Olympic tennis medal in almost a century when he beat third seed, Rafael Nadal of Spain 6-2 6-7 (1) 6-3 to win the bronze medal in the Olympics men’s singles tennis tournament.

The last time Japan won a tennis medal in the Olympics was in Antwerp in 1920 when the country won men’s silver and men’s doubles silver.

Nadal won the doubles gold with Spanish teammate Marc Lopez on Friday, but lost an epic three-hour singles semi-final to world number 141 Juan Martin del Potro on Saturday.

The 2008 singles champion in the Beijing Olympics, Nadal said his ailing left wrist came in the way of him giving his best, an injury that bothers him on his forehand but not on his backhand or serve.

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.

Rafael Nadal, Spanish Tennis Player 

Though Nadal felt his Rio journey would help him “move forward”, he also said:

I was too tired.