Silver as good as gold for Juan Martin del Potro

Juan Martin del Potro was bursting with pride despite having to settle for silver following an enthralling Olympic final at Rio 2016.

The Argentinian, who had knocked out Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal en route to the gold medal match, was beaten in four sets by defending champion Andy Murray.

After more than four hours of gruelling action, Murray prevailed 7-5 4-6 6-2 7-5, leaving both players exhausted at the conclusion.

While Murray was left to celebrate a second Olympic gold, Del Potro added silver to the bronze he won at London 2012, and was delighted with his achievement after a troublesome wrist injury had threatened to ruin his career.

"This will be on my mind for the rest of my life," he told the International Tennis Federation's website.

"I never thought something like this [could happen] at the beginning of the tournament. It's even bigger, like a dream.

"Now I have got a silver medal, which means a gold for me. I cannot believe I have got another medal for my country.

"I cannot describe how I did it tonight. For sure, the crowds made me run all the time, one more ball.

"I never gave up because of them, because I saw my team, I saw all the Argentinian people who came to watch me in the finals.

"My country was behind me watching on TV. I felt all of these things on court. That's why I tried to never give up and fight until the end point."