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BUENOS AIRES, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- The silver medal won by Argentine tennis player Juan Martin de Potro at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro has become the main headline all over Argentina's media on Monday.
The majority of local newspapers highlighters that despite losing in the final to his Scottish opponent, Andy Murray (world number two), del Potro's performance was "pure gold," after defeating both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, who are currently ranked first and fifth in the world ranking, respectively.
Due to a string of injuries and surgeries, the former world number four (2010) del Potro is currently ranked in 141st place in the world.
The sports daily Ole said the Argentine's performance "was (worth) more than a silver medal."
"Delpo (del Potro) made you feel what keeps him going when the body is destroyed and he played an epic four-hour-long final with Scotland's Murray, who took home the gold. Juan's (del Potro) visit to Rio was unforgettable," read the article.
Local newspaper Clarin's headline said: "Del Potro, heart of gold and silver medal."
The daily highlighted that the national tennis player "played to the limit of his physical possibilities after an extenuating week: the player had not played six matches in sight days since 2013."
"Silver that is worth Gold: Murray halted an unforgettable del Potro," was the headline on the front page of the newspaper La Nacion, accompanied by a photo of the tennis player wrapped in the Argentine flag.
The Diario Popular's front page read "Shines like gold," and added that the Argentine player finished "physically exhausted," but he fought "with all of his mettle and heart."
"Your silver counts," was the headline in the Cronica which also spoke of the physical difficulties, highlighting that del Potro left "his soul on the court."
Del Porto, bronze-medal-winner at London 2012 and who was defeated on Sunday after four sets, gave Argentina its second medal so far in Rio, after judoka Paula Pareto took home gold.
