What a winner!

Puig lands Gold, leaving Kerber with Silver…

Maria Esther Bueno was in the SporTV booth for the Gold Medal match of Rio 2016 when Puerto Rico’s unseeded Monica Puig became a winner of Olympic Gold when she pulled off her sensational victory over the World No 2 Angelique Kerber from Germany on Saturday.

“She [Monica Puig] played unbelievably well, hitting so hard all through the match, no matter what the score,” said Maria Esther.

“In spite of all her experience, the other one, [Angelique] Kerber disappeared!

“The whole match was played very fast by modern standards and it still lasted two hours and ten minutes. It was really a very good contest throughout.

“We have a very exciting new personality in women’s tennis now. Puig is not only a very nice person, she is an attractive individual who plays fantastic all-court tennis.

“I can’t tell you how nice it is to see a player going to the net these days!

“She is a very worthy Gold medal winner and it will be fascinating to see how well she now does over the coming weeks and at the US Open.”

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In winning the Rio 2016 final, Puig became Puerto Rico’s first-ever Olympic Gold medallist across all sports.

The 22-year-old outsider, who has never been beyond the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament, stunned Kerber, 6-4 4-6 6-1.

Puig, ranked number 34 in the world, also became the first female athlete from Puerto Rico to win an Olympic medal of any colour.

“It’s just amazing,” Puig said. “I know my country really appreciates this and I wanted to give it to them. The way that I did it tonight. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Puig lost the first game of the match on her own serve, but responded by going on the attack and immediately broke back.

She broke again in the final game of the first set, closing it out with a superb backhand down the line.

The underdog fought back from a break down in the second set to draw level at 4-4, but Kerber, winner of the 2016 Australian Open and a Wimbledon finalist last month, broke again before edging a tense final game in which Puig saved four set points.

In a one-sided final set, Puig made a total of 47 winners compared to Kerber’s 26 and fought back from 40-0 down in a marathon final game before eventually landing the title with her fourth match point as the German sent a shot wide.

Puig also upset recent French Open champion Garbiñe Muguruza of Spain on her road to the final, while her other victories came over Slovenia’s Polona Hercog, Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Germany’s Laura Siegemund, and the Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova.

“I just saw an improvement in every single match I played,” said the Gold medallist. “In every match, I got better and better. I just achieved one of my biggest dreams.”

Maria Esther reflected that women players these days seem to have trouble consolidating their games after winning a major title.

“I was surprised to see Muguruza go out so easily [to Puig] but now I can see why,” she said. “If she played half as well as she did today, she didn’t stand a chance.”

Earlier, in the Bronze medal match, the Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova beat the United States’ Madison Keys 7-5 2-6 6-2.

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Epic thriller

The men’s singles semi-finals also took place on Saturday when defending Olympic champion Andy Murray overcame Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-1 6-4 and Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro defeated Spain’s Rafael Nadal 5-7 6-4 7-6.

“By all accounts Andy [Murray] played so much better than in his last two matches,” Maria Esther observed.

“The outcome was apparently never in any doubt and it is really impressive that he has managed to reach the Olympic final for the second time in his career.

“He will face [Juan Martin] del Potro, who just edged out Rafa [Nadal] in the final set tiebreak.

“The stadium was very nearly full, with just some seats left at the very top, and the atmosphere absolutely incredible!

“There is quite a rivalry between Brazil and Argentina and there were a lot of Argentines in the crowd so the Brazilians were supporting Rafa. The noise was huge!”

Del Potro’s dream run in Rio de Janeiro had already taken in the scalp of world No 1 Novak Djokovic in the opening round, but the Argentine stepped it up again on Saturday, defeating 2008 Beijing Gold medallist Nadal amidst a raucous Davis Cup-style atmosphere on Centre Court.

“I am living like a dream,” said Del Potro. “It could be better than [winning the 2009] US Open tournament.

“My emotions are so high after every match. The crowds make me cry in every match and I would like to say thank you to them.”

In the gripping semi-final, Del Potro rallied back from a set down and served for the match at 5-4 in the decider, only for Nadal to break him to love.

Nadal dropped to 0-40 on his own serve in the next game, but dug his way out again.

Momentum seemed to be back with the Spaniard, but Del Potro attacked with his ferocious forehand in the decisive tiebreak, and fell flat on his back after sealing a memorable victory.

They had been on court for three hours and eight minutes.

“Rafa’s determination is an inspiration. He never gives up,” said Maria Esther. “How he broke back in the final set was extraordinary and I really thought he would go on to win from that point but, sadly, he didn’t.

“I had a chance to catch up with him on Thursday after he had played Thomaz [Bellucci]. He came into the player lounge after his shower, gave me a hug and a kiss and ate a bowl of pasta before going out again to play the doubles.

“He looked so fresh, fit and well, almost as if he hadn’t played at all and that was a long match too!”

Meanwhile del Potro, after kissing the Rio 2016 logo and being mobbed by fans court side, admitted it was tough playing Rafa.

“You never know when you are going to win. He fight all the time, he never give up like in the third set when I serve at 5-4,” he said.

“In the end, with the tiebreak, I play so aggressive with my forehand, looking for the winners and I did great at the end.”

Nadal, already a Doubles Gold medallist in Rio, refused to be despondent in defeat.

“It was good match, good level of tennis and all I can say is congratulations to Del Potro,” said the world No 5.

“I try my best. I give my best till the last ball but that’s like this. I am very satisfied by what I did the whole week. Tomorrow is another day and I going to try to be ready for it.”

Nadal will play Kei Nishikori in Sunday’s Bronze medal match after the Japanese player was brushed aside by Murray in the earlier semi-final.

“I was delighted Rafa won the Gold in the doubles with [Marcus] Lopez,” added Maria Esther.

“It is all the more extraordinary because he came into the Olympics with only about three weeks of practice and had not played a match in two months, not since Paris in May.

“Expectations were low, I think, and he entered singles, doubles and mixed, just to see how he could do.

“In the end he pulled out of the mixed because he was spending more than six hours on the court in the singles and doubles, which was sensible but a shame for Muguruza and the fans.

“That he could win one Gold and may add a Bronze to that is just fantastic for him and for Spain.”

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Looking ahead to the Men’s Gold Medal match

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“Murray has found his form just when it matters and must have the edge over del Potro, who played for over three hours on Saturday while Andy was on court for just under an hour and a half,” said Maria Esther.

“It is getting hot again here and although it is our winter, the temperature is heading to the thirties.

“It could be very tough conditions for both players so the longer recovery time you can get, could just make a real difference.”

Murray, the world No 2, is not only bidding to become the first player to win two Gold medals in either men’s or women’s singles, but he is also looking to become the first person to successfully defend a Gold medal, having also won the top prize four years ago in London.

“I played really well and I served well, by far the best this week.” said Murray after dispatching Nishikori in straight sets.

“It would mean a lot [to win gold again], it’s obviously not an easy thing to do, that’s why it’s not been done before, but I will go out there and give it my best effort.

“I’m happy that I’m guaranteed a medal after today but the goal is to win a gold medal so I will give it my best effort tomorrow to win another one.”

Murray leads del Potro 5-2 in their previous match-ups, but certainly won’t underestimate the Argentine when they meet on Centre Court.

“Juan Martin has played great this event,” said Murray.

“I think he obviously gained a lot of confidence from his win against Novak, and he won against Wawrinka at Wimbledon, so he’s starting to get back to a level he can play at after his wrist problems and it’s good, good for him.”

Maria Esther believes the Brit can make history on Sunday but the crowd could be a factor.

“I did a live interview into the stadium ahead of the women’s final yesterday [Saturday], after the del Potro / Nadal match and the crowd was pretty wild,” she said.

“With a South American in the final today, they could get even wilder, but I don’t think that sort of thing really affects Murray. He seems to get more focused, as we have seen in Davis Cup.

“It should be a great match and I will be there, way up high in the commentary booth again!”