Silver medallists Anabel Garrigues (2nd L) and Virginia Ruando Pascual (L) of Spain, gold medallists Venus Williams (3rd L) and Serena Williams (3rd R) of the US and bronze medallists Yan Zi (2nd R) and Jie Zheng (R) of China pose on the podium at the awards ceremony following the women's doubles tennis final during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games yesterday.
Venus and Serena Williams play together in the Olympic women's doubles and walk away with the gold medal. The famous American sisters overpowered Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain 6-2, 6-0 in an 1 hour 6 minutes match. “I’m so excited, I can’t even speak,” said the 28-year-old Venus, who has already won seven doubles Grand Slam titles and a gold medal in Sydney alongside younger sister Serena.
The pair didn’t enter the doubles competition in Athens four years ago because Serena was injured at the time. “To share this kind of moment with your sister,” Venus said, “it never grows old.”
It doesn’t hurt when your sister is one of the best in the world. “I don’t know anyone out there who would get tired of playing with Venus Williams,” said the 26-year-old Serena, who as a singles player is ranked eighth in the world, three spots behind No. 5 Venus.
“We were really focused from the first point. We really wanted to win,” said Serena, whose trophy cabinet includes 30 singles titles, eight of them Grand Slams. “We feel like we’ve contributed to our country in a huge way. That’s really what it’s all about.”
When the red carpet was rolled out on center court, the sisters climbed the medal podium together holding hands. A beaming Venus bobbed her head to the beat as “The Star-Spangled Banner” was played. Both Venus and Serena were beaten in the quarterfinals of the women's singles.The bronze medal went to China's Yan Zi and Zheng Jie who delivered the host country’s only tennis medal by beating Alona and Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine 6-2, 6-2.(Images by BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP/Getty Images)
(Text viaYahoo! Sports)
Gold medal winner Elena Dementieva (C) of Russia, Dinara Safina (L) and Bronze medalist Vera Zvonareva also from Russia display their medals after competing in the women's singles tennis competition at the Olympic Green Tennis Centre in Beijing today.
Dementieva wins 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, making up for her disappointment in losing the 2000 Sydney Olympic final to Venus Williams.
She clenched her fists in celebration and then wiped away tears of joy after denying the in-form Safina for the first time in four attempts this year.
I would say that Safina has temper that is very much like her brother. After double-faults she flung her racket, banged it against the concrete and smacked a ball into the stands, but the tantrums failed to help.
When Dementieva closed out her victory with a forehand winner, she collapsed to her knees, then walked to net and received a congratulatory hug from Safina. Dementieva snapped Safina’s 15-match winning streak. “I never expected a medal—gold, silver or bronze,” said Dementieva, 26. “It’s unbelievable. For me this is the best moment in my career. I’ll never forget it.”
(Images by BEHROUZ MEHRI/PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images)
Gold medalists Roger Federer (3rd L) and Stanislas Wawrinka (3rd R) of Switzerland, Silver medalists Simon Aspelin (L) and Thomas Johansson (2nd L) from Sweden, and Bronze medalists Bob and Mike Bryan of US pose for pictures after competing in the men's double's tennis competition at the Olympic Green Tennis Centre in Beijing on August 16, 2008.
It doesn't matter whether it's men's singles or doubles, Roger Federer still won his first Olympic gold medal! And that matters!An Olympic gold is priceless for Roger Federer who has an extensive trophy collection. By teaming up with Stanislas Wawrinka the Swiss duo won the Olympic doubles yesterday beating Simon Aspelin and Thomas Johansson of Sweden 6-3, 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-3.
Federer extended his arms in triumph and began to hop (which you don't quite often see as a singles player. Then, he embraced Wawrinka and they hopped together (hehe!).
With so many disappointment this year, Federer had waited long enough for a big victory to celebrate. And the Olympics is such a huge boost for his confidence.
After three Olympics, Federer is finally a medalist for the first time! "Sort of a dream-come-true moment," Federer said. "Maybe it comes around once in a lifetime. It's almost disbelief, to some degree."
(Images by PHILIPPE HUGUEN/BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP/Getty Images)
Silver medallists Anabel Garrigues (2nd L) and Virginia Ruando Pascual (L) of Spain, gold medallists Venus Williams (3rd L) and Serena Williams (3rd R) of the US and bronze medallists Yan Zi (2nd R) and Jie Zheng (R) of China pose on the podium at the awards ceremony following the women's doubles tennis final during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games yesterday.
