Williams sisters win second Olympic doubles gold medal in tennis
www.chinaview.cn 2008-08-17 16:52:19   Print

Serena Williams (R) and Venus Williams of the United States show their gold medals at the awarding ceremony of the women's doubles gold medal of Beijing Olympic Games tennis event in Beijing, China, Aug. 17, 2008. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)
Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Williams sisters claimed their second women's doubles gold medal at the Olympic tennis tournament after beating Spaniards Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual 6-2, 6-0 in the final on Sunday.

    Having won the Wimbledon doubles event last month, the American sisters were barely tested before beating the Spanish pair in one hour or so, becoming the second women's doubles team to win two gold medals in this event following compatriots Gigi Fernandez and Mary Joe Fernandez (1992 and 1996).

    The Williams sisters won the women's doubles gold medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

    "We were really focused from the very first point. We really wanted to win and we knew this was a really tough tournament, but we never gave up. We had to be focused," said Serena Williams after the match.

    Coming into the match on a devastating comeback win over Australian Open winners Alona and Kateryna Bondarenko from Ukraine in the semifinals, the Williams went into the game with a fast pace, breaking twice in the fourth and eighth games to take the first set at 6-2.

    In the second set, the Spanish duo was again struggling to find the rhythm with the American sisters taking the second set at love.

    "The Olympics is truly about participation, but it's also about your moment in time. Today my moment in time was with my sister who I love almost more than anyone in the world. It's just amazing to think that we could participate and bring home a gold medal and I am so excited I can't even speak," said Venus Williams, also the gold medalist in women's singles in Sydney 2000.

    "To be honest it does mean more for me to win it with Serena, to share this kind of moment with your sister. I mean we are practically joined together, it's really unexplainable. I have chill bumps."

Serena Williams (L) and Venus Williams of the United States compete during the women's doubles gold medal match of Beijing Olympic Games tennis event against Virginia Ruano Pascual and Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain in Beijing, China, Aug. 17, 2008. Serena Williams and Venus Williams won the match and grabbed gold medal in this event. (Xinhua/Zou Zheng)

Serena Williams (L) and Venus Williams of the United States compete during the women's doubles gold medal match of Beijing Olympic Games tennis event against Virginia Ruano Pascual and Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain in Beijing, China, Aug. 17, 2008. Serena Williams and Venus Williams won the match and grabbed gold medal in this event. (Xinhua/Zou Zheng)
Photo Gallery>>>

Editor: Xinhuanet
Related Stories
Home Beijing 2008 Olympics
Email Us Back to Top
Medal Tally Aug.  
Top Photos
Tennis: four gold medals at Beijing Olympics
Ethiopian Bekele retains Olympic title in men's 10,000m race
Top Videos
Forbidden City: between the state and family
Things to see in Beijing: Liulichang
Chinese gymnasts surpass best result by reaping two more golds
Fraser leads Jamaican sweep in women's 100m
China sails into women's volleyball quarterfinals
China trounce Czechs 79-63 to place 2nd in women's basketball group B
Epic eight golds for phenomenal Phelps