Skip to main content
BBC SPORT / TENNIS
Graphics Version | BBC News Home
Sport Homepage | Olympics | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Boxing | Athletics | Snooker | Horse Racing | Cycling | Paralympics | Sport Relief | Other sport... | TV/Radio Schedule | 606 | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Olympics Contents:  Results | Medals table | Olympics map | Team GB | Meet Monkey | Archery | Athletics | Badminton | Baseball | Basketball | Boxing | Canoeing | Cycling | Diving | Equestrian | Fencing | Football | Gymnastics | Handball | Hockey | Judo | Modern Pentathlon | Rowing | Sailing | Shooting | Softball | Swimming | Table Tennis | Taekwondo | Tennis | Triathlon | Volleyball | Weightlifting | Wrestling | Paralympics | London 2012

10:20 GMT, Sunday, 17 August 2008 11:20 UK

Dementieva secures singles gold

Elena Dementieva claimed gold in the women's tennis singles final after coming back from a set down to beat fellow Russian Dinara Safina.

Safina took the first set and looked to be on her way to her first Olympic title, but her compatriot rallied to win 3-6 7-5 6-3.

Dementieva's victory over her childhood friend completes Russia's podium sweep in the women's event.

Vera Zvonareva earlier dashed China's hopes, beating Li Na to claim bronze.

It is the first clean sweep in any tennis event since 1908, when Great Britain collected all three women's singles medals.

In an engaging and often gruelling final, Dementieva overcame a nervy, error-strewn first set to end Safina's 15-match winning streak.

606: DEBATE
What's your reaction to Russia's tennis medals sweep?

Despite being hauled back from a break up early in the final set, the world number seven served out solidly to take the title and better her silver from Sydney in 2000.

"I never expected a medal - gold, silver or bronze," said Dementieva, 26, a runner-up at the French and US Opens in 2004.

"It's unbelievable. For me this is the best moment in my career. I'll never forget it. I've been dreaming about this moment since I was eight years old."

Safina - who had won all three of the pair's previous meetings this year - hugged the champion after she fell to her knees in celebration.

Zvonareva, a late call-up for the injured Maria Sharapova, clinched the bronze medal play-off against Li 6-0 7-5. (L-R) Dinara Safina, Elena Dementieva and Vera Zvonareva

"Having three Russian girls left standing in the Olympics is a huge moment for Russia," Dementieva said.

"I know we were expecting and planning for some medals but I don't think anyone could expect three medals from the girls."

In the women's doubles, 2000 champions Serena and Venus Williams won their second career gold with a one-sided 6-2 6-0 victory over Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual.



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:

Beijing 2008: A Russian perspective (18 Aug 08 |  Olympics )
Nadal beats Gonzalez to take gold (17 Aug 08 |  Tennis )
Serena and Venus win doubles gold (17 Aug 08 |  Tennis )
Federer wins Olympic doubles gold (16 Aug 08 |  Tennis )
Djokovic beats Blake for bronze (16 Aug 08 |  Tennis )
Safina and Dementieva into final (16 Aug 08 |  Tennis )
Venus and Serena suffer defeats (14 Aug 08 |  Tennis )
Jankovic undone by in-form Safina (15 Aug 08 |  Tennis )
BBC Olympics blog (15 Aug 08 |  Olympics )
Beijing 2008 (14 Feb 08 |  Olympics )
Johansson's backhand masterclass (23 Jun 05 |  )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Beijing 2008
Olympics blog
Team GB for Beijing
IOC
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC SPORT: 

Sport Homepage | Olympics | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Boxing | Athletics | Snooker | Horse Racing | Cycling | Paralympics | Sport Relief | Other sport... | TV/Radio Schedule | 606 | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Olympics Contents:  Results | Medals table | Olympics map | Team GB | Meet Monkey | Archery | Athletics | Badminton | Baseball | Basketball | Boxing | Canoeing | Cycling | Diving | Equestrian | Fencing | Football | Gymnastics | Handball | Hockey | Judo | Modern Pentathlon | Rowing | Sailing | Shooting | Softball | Swimming | Table Tennis | Taekwondo | Tennis | Triathlon | Volleyball | Weightlifting | Wrestling | Paralympics | London 2012

^ Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | Feedback | Help | ©