Magical Murray mauls Federer to grab maiden gold
Source: Agencies |
August 6, 2012, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
BRITAIN'S Andy Murray completed an astonishing recovery from last month's Wimbledon heartache to thrash Roger Federer of Switzerland and claim Olympic gold on Centre Court in London yesterday.
Exactly four weeks after Federer had beaten him to claim a 17th grand slam title on the same court, reducing Murray to tears in the process, the Scot returned with an army of flag-waving fans to demolish the world No. 1 6-2, 6-1, 6-4.
Defeat virtually ended Federer's chances of completing the "golden career slam" of all four grand slam titles and the Olympic singles crown as he will be 34 when the Games move on to Rio de Janeiro in four years.
From the moment that Murray moved 4-2 ahead in the first set he barely gave Federer a look-in, rattling off nine games in a row to seize complete control of the final.
Murray went for the jugular in the third set, breaking for a 3-2 lead with a searing backhand and marched on to victory with chants of "Andy, Andy" ringing around the court.
Murray can later become the first British tennis player to win two gold medals at the same Games since John Boland in 1896 if he triumphs in the mixed doubles final with Laura Robson. They are up against the top-seeded Belarus duo of Victoria Azarenka and Max Mirnyi.
Earlier, Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro overcame his marathon semifinal defeat to win bronze with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Serbian second seed Novak Djokovic.
Del Potro's semifinal loss to top seed Federer on Friday was the longest men's three-set match played in the professional era.
Meanwhile, Venus and Serena Williams won gold in the women's doubles.
They defended their title with a 6-4, 6-4 victory yesterday against Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic.
Rainy afternoon
The sisters played under the roof on a rainy afternoon at the All England Club, a day after Serena dominated Maria Sharapova 6-0, 6-1 for singles gold.
She joined Germany's Steffi Graf as the only women to complete the golden slam - winning the Olympics and the four majors.
Serena became tennis' first double gold medalist at an Olympics since Venus won singles and doubles at Sydney in 2000.
The Williams sisters also joined Spain's Conchita Martinez, who won silver in 1992 and 2004 and bronze in 1996, as the only tennis players to win medals at three different Olympics.
Exactly four weeks after Federer had beaten him to claim a 17th grand slam title on the same court, reducing Murray to tears in the process, the Scot returned with an army of flag-waving fans to demolish the world No. 1 6-2, 6-1, 6-4.
Defeat virtually ended Federer's chances of completing the "golden career slam" of all four grand slam titles and the Olympic singles crown as he will be 34 when the Games move on to Rio de Janeiro in four years.
From the moment that Murray moved 4-2 ahead in the first set he barely gave Federer a look-in, rattling off nine games in a row to seize complete control of the final.
Murray went for the jugular in the third set, breaking for a 3-2 lead with a searing backhand and marched on to victory with chants of "Andy, Andy" ringing around the court.
Murray can later become the first British tennis player to win two gold medals at the same Games since John Boland in 1896 if he triumphs in the mixed doubles final with Laura Robson. They are up against the top-seeded Belarus duo of Victoria Azarenka and Max Mirnyi.
Earlier, Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro overcame his marathon semifinal defeat to win bronze with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Serbian second seed Novak Djokovic.
Del Potro's semifinal loss to top seed Federer on Friday was the longest men's three-set match played in the professional era.
Meanwhile, Venus and Serena Williams won gold in the women's doubles.
They defended their title with a 6-4, 6-4 victory yesterday against Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic.
Rainy afternoon
The sisters played under the roof on a rainy afternoon at the All England Club, a day after Serena dominated Maria Sharapova 6-0, 6-1 for singles gold.
She joined Germany's Steffi Graf as the only women to complete the golden slam - winning the Olympics and the four majors.
Serena became tennis' first double gold medalist at an Olympics since Venus won singles and doubles at Sydney in 2000.
The Williams sisters also joined Spain's Conchita Martinez, who won silver in 1992 and 2004 and bronze in 1996, as the only tennis players to win medals at three different Olympics.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
