The Korea Herald

소아쌤

Williams sisters defend gold in doubles

By Korea Herald

Published : Aug. 6, 2012 - 19:26

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WIMBLEDON, England (AP) ― Serena Williams relishes her role as copycat little sister. Even if it takes her 12 years.

Now she has that Olympic double ― just like Venus. The overpowering American pair won the doubles title at the Olympics on Sunday, with Serena adding to the singles gold she won on Centre Court at Wimbledon a day earlier.

“Crazy,” Serena said. “I’m always copying her. I forgot that she did it in Sydney and I do it here. We’re the same doubles team, we just split this to singles, so it’s cool.”

The sisters beat Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-4 under the roof on a rainy afternoon at the All England Club. Venus ― with her red, white and blue braids pulled back into a bun ― closed the match on the very grass she has long loved with a backhand volley winner after the Czechs saved a pair of match points.

“We all talk about this, ‘We have so many medals,’ but to be able to add to that, it’s like an unbelievable feeling,” Venus said. “You know that in that count, there you are. It feels amazing.”

On Saturday, Serena beat Maria Sharapova 6-0, 6-1 for the singles gold. She joined Steffi Graf as the only women to complete the Golden Slam ― winning the Olympics and the four majors.

When the Americans in the crowd at Centre Court broke into a chant of “U-S-A! U-S-A!” as the players left the court, the sisters pumped their fists, turned to wave, then slapped a high-five. This was another commanding performance ― as the sisters didn’t drop a set through their five matches in London.

The medal ceremony had to wait some five hours after the outdoor bronze-medal match which was delayed by rain ― and both sisters literally let their hair down for their moment on the podium. Venus sported bright red lipstick, and Serena put her arm around her sister’s waist and embraced her from the side.