Serena tops Sharapova for gold
Source: Agencies |
August 5, 2012, Sunday
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Print Edition
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SERENA Williams became only the second woman to complete a career golden slam when she won her first Olympic singles gold medal yesterday by beating Maria Sharapova 6-0, 6-1.
The victory completed a remarkable run of domination by the No. 4-seeded Williams, who lost only 17 games in her six matches. She went 13-0 this summer at the All England Club, where she won her fifth Wimbledon title a month ago.
The career golden slam was first achieved by Germany's Steffi Graf, who did it when she won the Olympics in 1988 after sweeping all four major titles. Williams can add the gold medal to her 14 grand slam singles championships, the most of any active woman.
And she's not done in London. Williams and her sister Venus, pursuing their third gold in doubles, were scheduled to play in the semifinals later.
It took the No. 3-seeded Sharapova 45 minutes to win a game, and by then she trailed 0-6, 0-3. Williams dominated with her serve and repeatedly blasted winners from the baseline, taking a big swing with almost every stroke despite the gusty wind on Centre Court that rippled her dress.
When Sharapova wasn't lunging or whiffing as the ball whizzed past, she was caught off balance trying to block back shots at her feet. The American finished with 10 aces, 24 winners and only seven unforced errors.
Sharapova completed a career grand slam in June by winning the French Open, but Williams beat her for the eighth consecutive time.
Top-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus won the bronze by beating No. 14-seeded Maria Kirilenko of Russia 6-3, 6-4. Sharapova's loss allowed Azarenka to retain the No. 1 ranking.
The men's singles final today will be a repeat of this year's Wimbledon final with Briton Andy Murray hoping to take revenge on world No. 1 Roger Federer of Switzerland.
The victory completed a remarkable run of domination by the No. 4-seeded Williams, who lost only 17 games in her six matches. She went 13-0 this summer at the All England Club, where she won her fifth Wimbledon title a month ago.
The career golden slam was first achieved by Germany's Steffi Graf, who did it when she won the Olympics in 1988 after sweeping all four major titles. Williams can add the gold medal to her 14 grand slam singles championships, the most of any active woman.
And she's not done in London. Williams and her sister Venus, pursuing their third gold in doubles, were scheduled to play in the semifinals later.
It took the No. 3-seeded Sharapova 45 minutes to win a game, and by then she trailed 0-6, 0-3. Williams dominated with her serve and repeatedly blasted winners from the baseline, taking a big swing with almost every stroke despite the gusty wind on Centre Court that rippled her dress.
When Sharapova wasn't lunging or whiffing as the ball whizzed past, she was caught off balance trying to block back shots at her feet. The American finished with 10 aces, 24 winners and only seven unforced errors.
Sharapova completed a career grand slam in June by winning the French Open, but Williams beat her for the eighth consecutive time.
Top-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus won the bronze by beating No. 14-seeded Maria Kirilenko of Russia 6-3, 6-4. Sharapova's loss allowed Azarenka to retain the No. 1 ranking.
The men's singles final today will be a repeat of this year's Wimbledon final with Briton Andy Murray hoping to take revenge on world No. 1 Roger Federer of Switzerland.
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