By Kelly Whiteside, USA TODAY
WIMBLEDON, England – About the only achievement missing on Serena Williams' résumé— an Olympic gold medal in singles — was added Saturday in stunning fashion.
Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports
Serena Williams celebrates a point against Maria Sharapova on her way to her first Olympic singles gold medal on Saturday at Wimbledon.
In what can only be termed complete domination, Williams served three aces in the opening game, broke Maria Sharapova's service in the second and never looked back in rolling to her first Olympic tennis singles championship 6-0, 6-1.
Williams, the fourth seed, won the first nine games over the third-seeded Russian on a breezy afternoon on the sameCentre Court grass where she captured her fifth Wimbledon championship last month. Since losing to Sharapova in the Wimbledon final in 2004, Williams has beaten Sharapova eight consecutive times.She let out a loud scream after match point and then jumped up and down on the court in joy, a wide smile across her face. She even did a little victory dance.
"It's a big moment, it's a big moment," she said afterward.
Williams also was scheduled to play a doubles semifinal match with her sister, Venus, on Saturday. The two won Olympic doubles gold in 2000 and 2008.
But singles gold remained elusive. After demolishing world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6-1, 6-2 in the semifinals Friday, Williams said she was proud of a career that includes 14 Grand Slam singles championships — most of any active woman. But she added that the singles gold would be like gravy for her.
Going into the match she also talked about how much fun she was having here, something easy to see, given that she rolled through the tournament with barely a challenge. She did not lose a set in six matches.
Asked how this title compares with all her Grand Slams, Williams said, "It compares right up there. I always wanted to win a gold medal (in singles) secretly and I've always said it doesn't matter because I already have a gold medal (in doubles) and I really believe that but deep, deep, deep down I wanted it in singles as well. It's such an amazing feeling. I got it. I can't compare. I have it, I have them all so it's great feeling."
No comments:
Post a Comment