Mirnyi/Azarenka battle past Murray/Robson to capture Mixed Doubles Gold Medal – London Olympics
Max Mirnyi and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus denied Great Britain from its second Gold Medal of the night, as they defeated Andy Murray and Laura Robson 2-6, 6-3, 10-8 to win the mixed doubles title on Sunday. The Belarusians needed
an hour and 22 minutes to beat their British opponents in a hard fought contest.
Just a couple of hours earlier, Murray had defeated the world number one, Roger Federer of Switzerland, to win Gold Medal in singles category.
The British duo made an ideal start, as they snatched opening four games of the match to take a 4-0 advantage. Mirnyi and Azarenka, who were the top seeds of the event, managed to claim two games and avoid some embarrassment but
they failed to come at par, losing it 2-6.
Murray/Robson and Mirnyi/Azarenka held their opening serves of the second set to level the proceedings at 1-1. The Belarusian tandem snatched a break in the third game and consolidated on it to move ahead 3-1. Serving to stay in
the set at 3-5, Murray and Robson failed to hold and lost it 3-6.
Mirnyi and Azarenka grabbed opening three points of the match tie-breaker to build a 3-0 lead. Though, Murray and Robson clawed their way back to equalise the proceedings at 6-6. The Belarusian team snatched three back to back
points again to take the score to 9-6 and create three match winning opportunities. Murray and Robson saved two of them and reduced the trail to 8-9 but Mirnyi/Azarenka hit a volley winner at that moment to win 10-8.
Talking to media after the match, a jubilant Mirnyi said, "This is a dream come true at possibly my last Olympics. It’s fabulous to win the title. It certainly adds an extra spice to the tournament, it being at Wimbledon. The emotions
are beyond words right now. It’s the pinnacle of my career, for sure. We came to the Olympics to represent our country and to have won a gold medal, it couldn’t have been better."
American duo of Mike Bryan and Lisa Raymond toppled Christopher Kas and Sabine Lisicki of Germany 6-3, 4-6, 10-4 to grab the Bronze medal.
Bryan said, "[The] bronze medal feels really good. I told her (Raymond) that it's been a great 28 days and we'd rather take this over Wimby any day - this is an Olympic medal. Thanks Lisa.”
Mixed doubles was organized at the London Olympics for the first time after 1924 Paris Games.
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