Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova are not just playing for Olympic gold at Wimbledon. There is a career Golden Slam on the line, too.
The winner of their final at Wimbledon on Saturday can claim that accolade, which entails extra prestige rather than just prize money or ranking points. Both champions have won all four Grand Slam titles during their careers, but Olympic gold in singles has eluded them.
“Whether I win or lose, that’s not the big deal,” said Williams, who defeated world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6-1, 6-2 on Friday. “The big deal for me, USA is guaranteed another medal. I’m guaranteed to just go out there tomorrow and have fun. That’s all I can do.”
Photo: AFP
Roger Federer, who has won 17 majors, also has a chance at a career Golden Slam when he plays for the gold against Andy Murray today. He beat Juan Martin del Potro in the longest best-of-three set match of the Open era, at 4 hours, 26 minutes, while Murray ousted Novak Djokovic.
“Roger, me and Maria. The odds are good,” Williams said about the opportunities to get a career Golden Slam.
Andre Agassi and Rafael Nadal, who withdrew from the London Olympics because of a knee injury, won all four Grand Slam titles as well as Olympic gold in different years.
In 1988, Steffi Graf won a Grand Slam — all four titles in the same calendar year — as well as a gold medal at the Seoul Olympics, which reinstated tennis as a sport in those Games for the first time in 64 years.
Williams said she felt no pressure or sense that she had to achieve anything else in an extraordinary career in which she first rose to the top of the rankings a decade ago.
“I don’t feel like I’m missing anything. I feel like if I were to retire last week, I would be fine,” she said.
Williams and sister Venus already have two gold medals in doubles, winning in Sydney in 2000 and Beijing in 2008, and are still in contention in the doubles this year. Serena has won 14 Grand Slam singles titles, the most of any active woman; Sharapova has won four majors, sinking to her knees and raising her arms skyward when she won the French Open this year.
The Olympic finalists have forged very different paths to their showdown on Centre Court at Wimbledon. Williams tore through a series of top players, including Azarenka, No. 8 Caroline Wozniacki and No. 14 Vera Zvonareva. She lost only 16 games in five rounds and has won 12 consecutive matches this summer at the All England Club, including her fifth Wimbledon title a month ago.
Sharapova has had tougher matches, including a three-set win over Sabine Lisicki, a German who beat her at Wimbledon. That loss cost her the top ranking, but Sharapova is playing some of her best tennis this year since a shoulder injury took her out of the game for an extended period several years ago and deprived her of the chance to compete at the Beijing Games.
Williams is 8-2 in their head-to-head record, beating Sharapova most recently on clay in Madrid this year. In 2004, 17-year-old Sharapova defeated Williams at Wimbledon for her first Grand Slam title.
“Maria does everything really well,” Williams said. “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.”
Sharapova defeated Russian teammate Maria Kirilenko 6-2, 6-3 on Friday, hitting a forehand drive volley past Kirilenko on match point. She’s approaching the Williams match with grit.
“It doesn’t really matter who is across the net,” she said before learning she would play Williams.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely