NEW YORK—Andy Murray beat Juan Martin del Potro in the Olympic gold-medal match and remains astounded by the 2009 US Open champion's comeback.
"I think what he's done is amazing just more because he's had the same kind of problems setting him back for, I mean, the last two-and-a-half, three years," Murray told the media tonight after his four-set victory over Paolo Lorenzi. "He'd hurt his wrist in practice, and then a few times he actually got back on the tour and had problems very early on in his comebacks. I can imagine how demoralizing that must have been, how tough it would have been to keep wanting to do it, keep fighting to do it.
"Also your body, as well. Like when you don't play matches, hardly any matches for a long period, it takes time for your body to get used to it again."
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The Wimbledon champion said del Potro's commitment to the cause and mental strength overcoming four wrist surgeries are the most impressive aspects of his comeback.
"I think what he's done has been amazing," Murray said. "I'm not surprised at how well he's hitting the ball. He's always been a great ball-striker. I don't expect him necessarily to lose that. It's more the mentality that he's shown really has been the most impressive part. Happy for him that he's managed to get himself back competing in the big events at the top again."
No. 22-seeded Grigor Dimitrov, who briefly worked with del Potro's former coach, Franco Davin, said he had no doubt del Potro would return.
"I never doubted that. All the people that's been around me have said the same thing," Dimitrov said. "I mean, of course there's a long, long way for him to come back like that. But the way he's been playing throughout the year, I remember he started the year so-so in a way, but he was still hitting the ball pretty amazing."
Dimitrov calls del Potro one of the best ball-strikers in the sport.
"I mean, with that forehand, you can close your eyes, hit the ball, it can get in," Dimitrov said. "Definitely one of the best hitters in the game. The Olympics and everything, that really helps you to build up.
"Of course, only time can show the rest, but it was never a doubt in my mind that the guy's going to be back."
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