Serena, Sharapova, Bryans Bid For Golden Slam Saturday At Olympics

by Staff | August 4th, 2012, 8:38 am
  • 23 Comments

Tournament favorites Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova go for gold and the career “Golden Slam” glory Saturday at the Olympic Tennis event at Wimbledon.

Serena has been totally week dropping only 16 games in wins over No. 1s Jelena Jankovic, Caroline Wozniacki and yesterday at complete destruction of current No. 1 Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 6-2.

Sharapova is playing well also. Playing her first Olympic games the Russian has lost only one set and yesterday she easily handled countrywomen Maria Kirilenko 6-2, 6-3.


Head-to-head, Serena has dominated her Russian rival winning eight of ten meetings including their last seven. The two have split their two meetings at Wimbledon.

“Maria does everything really well,” said Serena. “She’s improved so much from week-to-week. I mean, the worst thing for her to do is lose because the next time she comes out, she wins and improves, she never looks back.

“For me, that’s going to be really important, knowing I’m playing a great player, French Open champion. I have to really do my best. I don’t have anything to lose tomorrow. She’s No. 3 in the world. I just do the best I can. Whether I win or not, it will be just a great opportunity for me to get this far.”

But with a gold and the golden slam at stake, who will best handle the occasion?

Serena and elder sister Venus are still in the gold medal women’s doubles hunt. They’ll pay in their semifinals against Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova. The sisters have never lost an Olympic doubles match (14-0).

Later today, the top ranked Bryan brothers, Bob and Mike, seek a similar career Gold Slam and a first gold medal. The twins will play the French team of Michael Llodra and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a best-of-3 final.

Centre Court starting at 12:00
XD QF (ITF) ROBSON / MURRAY (GBR) vs (ITF) STOSUR / HEWITT (AUS)
not before 14:00
WS F (4) WILLIAMS Serena (USA) vs (3) SHARAPOVA Maria (RUS)
MD F (1) BRYAN / BRYAN (USA) vs (2) LLODRA / TSONGA (FRA)

Court No. 1 starting at 12:00
WS BM (1) AZARENKA Victoria (BLR) vs (14) KIRILENKO Maria (RUS)
not before 13:30
MD BM BENNETEAU / GASQUET (FRA) vs FERRER / LOPEZ (ESP)
XD SF Winner of: vs LISICKI / KAS (GER) vs ROBSON / MURRAY (GBR) vs STOSUR


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23 Comments for Serena, Sharapova, Bryans Bid For Golden Slam Saturday At Olympics

Margot Says:

Laura and Andy through to the semis. Am gobsmacked.
Let’s Go Team GB. Let’s Go.

August 4th, 2012 at 9:08 am


alison Says:

Azarenka beat Kirilenko in straight sets to win a Bronze.

August 4th, 2012 at 9:22 am


Brando Says:

@Margot:

i was kind of hoping that they would lose, lol!

I know it’s not patriotic, but personally i thought that it would give andy more time to r and r for the final.

But, in a way i think this might help him as rather than practising he is playing short matches and he has less time to think about the final- so the build up, the nerves etc maybe be bypassed by the mixed doubles.

I read somewhere that andy feels the olympics is the ‘most fun he has had ever in a tennis tourny’- well let’s hope he has even more fun on sunday!

:-)

August 4th, 2012 at 9:47 am


Kimmi Says:

a bagel first set. how does serena do this?

August 4th, 2012 at 9:51 am


sudhir Says:

because when she is playing well, she is way better than the current players. I think the only recent player who could match up to her was Justine Hardine and she has retired

August 4th, 2012 at 9:53 am


Kimmi Says:

it is a batting practice for serena. lol! this is unbelievable.

August 4th, 2012 at 9:58 am


pritesh Says:

the beauty is being hammered by the beast

August 4th, 2012 at 9:59 am


Polo Says:

I’d rather say: the beauty and the best.

August 4th, 2012 at 10:08 am


Kimmi Says:

6-0 6-1 against no.2 seed. this is even better than her wimbledon performance.

August 4th, 2012 at 10:23 am


Polo Says:

When Serena plays, seedings cease to matter. Very impressive!

August 4th, 2012 at 10:26 am


pritesh Says:

the way she utterly dominates her younger opponents, makes me think she still would be winning till she is 50. guess she would’nt be delivering bagel’s § breadstick’s then

August 4th, 2012 at 10:55 am


jane Says:

I read that too Brando – that Andy says he’s never had more fun at a tournament; perhaps that is why he is playing so freely? All that support must feel wonderful.

August 4th, 2012 at 11:09 am


Kimmi Says:

murray playing two mixed double matches today. they have a good start 3-0

August 4th, 2012 at 11:15 am


Tennis Vagabond Says:

Wow. What can you say about Serena? She dominated a golden generation, with Venus, Capriatti, Lindsay, Justine and Clijsters, took a couple years of semi-retirement and now is simply embarrassing the Rusty Tin generation of women’s tennis.
It is almost sad that she lives in a time when there is no rival to truly test her. What would it be worth to see her against Graf or Navratalova in their primes?
Congrats to Serena, far and away the best women’s player of this century.

August 4th, 2012 at 11:21 am


jane Says:

Azarenka’s reaction to winning the bronze was really sweet; clearly it meant a lot to her.

August 4th, 2012 at 11:27 am


Brando Says:

@Jane:

the support for him has been amazing. i agree with the ‘playing freely’ part- i have never seen him hit his forehand as hard as he is doing at the moment. it is turning into a real weapon.

my only wish with andy right now is that he uses his BH more offensively, hit the BH DTL more often.

He can do so as his BH is an excellent shot, yet for some reason he uses it as a more containing shot as opposed to being on the offensive with it- like nole does.

besides which- more of the same please muzza. :-)

August 4th, 2012 at 12:00 pm


jane Says:

Murray can now go for two golds. Congrats to him and Laura!

August 4th, 2012 at 12:38 pm


Margot Says:

Am gobsmacked for a second time,but in a good way :)
Andy is on fire! Go Andy. Go Laura. Go Team GB.
But Brando have just heard they are putting the final of the mixed b4 singles final WTF :( Just hoping this in a mere rumour and not true.

August 4th, 2012 at 1:48 pm


Margot Says:

^ Phew! Completely false rumour, started on twitter where else? Obviously by someone wanting to send Andy fans completely crackers, rather than partially as we already are. *eye roll*
From 12, Bronze first, then Gold then on cc. mixed tbd
Women’s doubles on 1.

August 4th, 2012 at 2:18 pm


jane Says:

Thanks for the schedule update margot. Thrilled for Andy!! It really is the time of his life right now. He and Laura are cracking jokes in their interviews, clearly having a ball.

August 4th, 2012 at 2:26 pm


racquet Says:

@ jane @ margot

I’m also beyoned thrilled for Andy. I hope this will prove to be a turning point. Funny, if you relied on this site for tennis news you’d only think one semi-final was played yesterday ;)

August 4th, 2012 at 4:47 pm


Alok Says:

Congrats to the Americans for winning so many gold medals.

August 4th, 2012 at 6:29 pm


alison Says:

^The Brits day wasnt too shabby either^.

August 5th, 2012 at 5:50 am

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