Nadal Captures Gold, No. 1 Rank

Williams sisters take doubles title; 10-0 Olympic record
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Aug 17, 2008 8:19 AM CDT
Nadal Captures Gold, No. 1 Rank
Rafael Nadal of Spain commiserates Fernando Gonzalez of Chile following their Gold medal singles tennis match at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008.    (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Rafael Nadal won the Olympic men's singles gold medal today, overcoming two set points in the second set and holding every service game to beat Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-3. The gold medal was the first for Spain in Olympic tennis, and Nadal became the first top-five ranked player to medal in the traditionally upset-filled sport. He takes the No. 1 ranking tomorrow, ending Roger Federer's 4 1/2-year reign.

Elena Dementieva earned the gold in women's singles, taking advantage of 17 double-faults by fellow Russian Dinara Safina to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. In women's doubles, Venus and Serena Williams of the United States won the gold, beating Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain 6-2, 6-0. Russia swept the medals in women's singles when Vera Zvonareva beat Li Na of China 6-0, 7-5 to win the bronze.
(More Roger Federer stories.)

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