Ever since making her comeback last June, Serena Williams was expected to resume from where she left off, quickly regaining her reign at the top of the women's tennis. Things didn't go quite so smooth though, but it all seems to have clicked after the sensational triumph at Wimbledon where she claimed her 14th Grand Slam crown, in addition to winning the double title with her sister Venus.
Unbeaten since, the American wrapped up the Stanford title, before taking a devastating form into the Olympics. Easy wins over the likes of Jelena Jankovic, Urszula Radwanska, Vera Zvonareva and Caroline Wozniacki, propelled her in the battle for her first individual medal. Just like she has done so many times, when shove comes to push, the American upped her game and produced a sensational display, leaving her rivals thunderstruck and enable to fight back. It was the case of world number 1, Victoria Azarenka, who once again failed to find an answer to Serena's tremendous serve, losing 1-6,2-6 in a repeat of their Wimbledon semifinal.
Attempting to join Steffi Graf as the only player in history to achieve a career Golden Slam, the American absolutely crushed Russian Maria Sharapova, the French Open champion, 6-0,6-1 showing why she is the best tennis player in world. "I've never played better," a jubilant Williams said. "Playing against Maria you have to be at your best. I knew that. She won the French Open, she never loses this year. She's playing the finals of everything so I knew it was going to be tough."
Not only did Serena will all Slams and the Olympic god medal, but she is also the only player to have achieved the same feat in doubles as well. Reflecting on her accomplishment, the American declared: "It's too much. I never expected gold in singles. I was so happy with my doubles golds. I thought if my career's over I have my gold medal, now I have everything, literally. I have everything there is to win in tennis. Where do I go from here? Now I can go to Disneyworld," she added.
A day after winning the singles gold, the American added the doubles gold too, teaming up with sister Venus to become the first duo tennis to win the same discipline at three Olympic editions. The Williamses have previously won gold in Sydney in 2000 and in Beijing in 2008.
A day after winning the singles gold, the American added the doubles gold too, teaming up with sister Venus to become the first duo tennis to win the same discipline at three Olympic editions. The Williamses have previously won gold in Sydney in 2000 and in Beijing in 2008.
Much like the rest of the field, Maria Sharapova was no match to Serena Williams. The American absolutely smashed her Russian opponent 6-0,6-1 to complete a career Golden Slam. |
Golden girl, Serena Williams, shared the podium with Maria Sharapova, silver, and world number 1, Victoria Azarenka, who beat Maria Kirilenko for the bronze medal. |
Serena became quadruple Olympic champion after she and sister Venus beat the Czechs Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka to secure their third gold in doubles. |
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