Saturday 4 August 2012

Serena Williams routs Maria Sharapova for Olympic gold

About the only achievement missing on Serena Williams' résumé— an Olympic gold medal in singles — was added SaturdayIn 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 same Centre 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.

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. in stunning fashion.

No comments:

Post a Comment