Williams Sisters knock down Hlavackova/Hradecka to win Gold Medal – London Olympics
American sisters, Serena Williams and Venus Williams, captured their third women’s doubles Olympics Gold Medal by downing Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka of Czech Republic in twin sets 6-4, 6-4 in the final at the 2012 London
Games on Sunday.
Serena and Venus did not even allow their opponents to settle down in the match, claiming breakthrough in the very first game and consolidating on it to attain a 2-0 lead. The Americans did not lose any of their own serves and
maintained their advantage till the end, closing it 6-4.
The multiple-time Grand Slam champions, Serena and Venus, banged in a single ace and 58 percent of the first serves, winning 16 of the 21 points on them. The American sisters played aggressively, bombarding 17 winners and committing
nine unforced errors. Serena and Venus availed one of the five break chances they created and put away both threats they came across in the opener.
Start of the second set was steadier than the first, as both teams held their serve in the opening four games to square off the score at 2-2. Serena and Venus hit a blow to the Czech duo in the fifth and capitalised on it to go
up 4-2. Just like the opener, the American pair did not allow Hlavackova and Hradecka to stage a comeback and grabbed it 6-4.
In the second set, Serena and Venus served even better than the first, as they pounded five aces and 75 percent of the first deliveries, converting 19 of the 24 points. The American combination was almost flawless on their ground
strokes, as they hit 18 winners and made just three unforced errors.
Venus said, talking to the reporters after the contest, "We've been winning this title since 2000, but it's easier said than done. We come in as the favorites, but it's not a given. We fought hard and our opponents played very
well - they're very talented. But we're glad we were able to keep the gold medal here for us. It's an amazing feeling. For me it was also amazing to watch Serena complete the Golden Slam."
Serena is hopeful that she would play next Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro after four years. She said, "I'll definitely be in Rio if I'm healthy and I'm playing - I hope to still be playing at 100% by then. I have some titles to
defend, too."
The American sisters clinched their previous doubles title at the 2000 Sydney and 2008 Beijing Olympics.
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