Monica Puig Stuns Angelique Kerber In Rio, Becomes First Puerto Rican To Win Gold At Olympics

by Staff | August 14th, 2016, 12:27 am
  • 7 Comments

What a week for Monica Puig. The 22-year-old ranked No. 34 in the world had never played the Olympics, never beaten a Top 3 player, had just one career title to her name and her country of Puerto Rico had never won a gold medal in any sport in any Olympics! But that has changed.

Earlier Saturday, Puig stunned World No. 2 and Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 to take the women’s singles gold medal at the Rio Olympics.

The win capped off a dream week for Puig that saw her beat Garbine Muguruza, Petra Kvitova and Kerber.


“I’m in shock, I just don’t even really know what to say. I’m so excited,” Puig said.

“This is for Puerto Rico. This is definitely for them,” she added. “They’re going through some tough times right now, and they needed this. I needed this.

“I think I united a nation. I just love where I come from.”

Puig raced out quick in the first set but after an injury timeout for Kerber that preceded the second, the German got her bearings and forced the third.

With Kerber holding the momentum, it was Puig all the way in the finale taking a 5-0 lead.

She finished with a jaw-dropping 54 winners (33 unforced) against one of the best defenders in the women’s game. And she went 5/7 on break chances while Kerber was just 3/12.

“I just achieved one of my biggest dreams. I’m just so happy I was able to be the first Puerto Rican woman to win a medal at the Games, and not just any medal,” Puig said. “The gold medal.”

Kerber was gunning for the gold, but she’ll take the silver.

“It’s not the medal I wish but still it’s silver, and before I came here I said to myself I would do everything to win a medal and I won a silver one and I’m proud to represent my country and to take an Olympic medal back home.”


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7 Comments for Monica Puig Stuns Angelique Kerber In Rio, Becomes First Puerto Rican To Win Gold At Olympics

chrisford1 Says:

Does raise one interesting situation. The White House for decades has invited Olympians to come by for a luncheon, tour, meet&greet.
This time, they have an American gold medal winner in a significant sport from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Which has as it’s Head of State, Obama…
I think she gets an invite. And it’s with all the other US Olympians, heroff on one side, under the PR flag.


Dan Martin Says:

I have a lot of stuff up regarding Puig, the men’s gold medal match, and Cincinnati at http://tennisabides.com – Puig’s win really was a magical run as she beat 3 major title winners en route to this gold medal. I hope she brings this level to the WTA Tour as she is a player with great charisma. I also would hope she does get a White House invite. Puerto Rico has a non-voting presence in congress so that congressperson should invite her at a minimum.


Margot Says:

Sad for Angie but absolutely amazing from Piug. Hope she can back this win up. Exciting goforit game. Agree with Dan, whatever “it” is, she got “it.”
Only saw first set, where Angie seemed to pull a muscle, because ahem, ahem was watching the Brits doing rather well in the cycling….. …..


Van Persie Says:

Congrats to Monica! Seems like the WTA is getting more and more interesting.


Khb Says:

Lol at the sad drinking of Roddick Kool Aid in the article below.

He compares Monica’s calmness to Roddick’s.
Roddick bragged about breaking the law and hitting his legendary opponent. There was nothing redeemable about him.
A lucky fluke from the 2003 us open semi against the injured Nalbandian doesn’t compare to the genuine Puerto Rican Monica Puig’s matches.

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2016/08/monica-puig-juan-martin-del-potro-rafael-nadal-2016-olympics-rio-tennis/59945/


BBB Says:

To think, even if Puig had opted to play under the U.S. flag, she wouldn’t have made the team!

Great story.


chrisford1 Says:

Two Latins on no one’s radar screen played, or will play for gold medals in tennis. This is great for Latin America.

Kerber’s silver shows the AO was no fluke. Angie is solid in the Top 10 now.
Poor Djoker, on top of his 1st round bum’s rush in Rio, in Cincinnati likely the field will be further deleted by the fatigue of the guys that played for medals withdrawing or playing tired – It will be the easiest field he could ever face in Cincinnati and he is not up to playing at present. Another shit sandwich made of processed through organic vegan food – for him

Olympic congrats too for Americans Sock and Bettany Matek-Sands for mixed doubles gold. Sock also scored a bronze in men’s doubles along with Steve Johnson.
And for old geezers Hingis and Venus winning silver, and even older Radek Stepanek getting bronze.
Kei gets a bronze Japan will celerate but Rafa and amigo Marc Lopez still got gold in doubles.

But Puig’s gold has to be the most pleasant surprise of the Olympics.

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