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Tennis and running are set to be the big Olympic sports of the day, and the Williams sisters are the day's early stars. In a repeat of 2000 and 2008, Serena and Venus took the women's doubles gold, beating Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-4. Venus closed out the match with a backhand volley winner after the Czechs saved a pair of match points, reports the AP. Serena won her first singles gold yesterday. Up next, tennis-wise: Roger Federer and Andy Murray face off in the men's gold medal match.
On the running front:
- Tiki Gelana of Ethiopia won the women's Olympic marathon in a race that began in heavy rain, saw the sun briefly come out, and ended in another downpour. She finished in 2 hours, 23.07 seconds, holding off Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya by five seconds. Tatyana Petrova Arkhipova of Russia captured the bronze. Shalane Flanagan was the top US finisher in 10th place.
- Tonight's big event: Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake will battle it out in the men's 100-meter final. In addition to being the reigning Olympic champion, Bolt owns the world record of 9.58 seconds. Blake is the world champion, and he also beat Bolt in the 100 and 200 at the Jamaican Olympic trials.
