SYDNEY – Venus Williams extended her domination of women’s tennis into the Olympics by winning the gold medal in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4, today over a game, but overpowered and overmatched Elena Dementieva of Russia.
By closing out Dementieva in 55 minutes, Williams won her 32nd straight singles match, the best stretch by a woman since Martina Hingis won 37 in a row in 1997.
Williams’ brilliant spurt includes triumphs at both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. She last lost on June 6 in the French Open quarterfinals against Arantxa Sanchez Vicario. Williams beat her in these quarterfinals to advance.
“Obviously Wimbledon and the other grand slams, I’ll have so many opportunities to win, but this is only every four years,” Williams said. “Who knows? In 2004, I might not be chosen. This is a moment in time for me, my coaches, my family and my team. I knew I was playing for my country and for pride.”
Williams, ranked No. 3 in the world, has a chance to join Helen Willis (1924) as the only woman to ever win gold in both the singles and doubles at one Olympics. Venus joins her sister Serena in the doubles final tomorrow against Miriam Oremans and Kristie Bogert of the Netherlands.
Richard Williams, Venus’ controversial father/coach, was not in attendance. But, joined by her mother, Brandi, Serena waved a small American flag toward the end of the match as encouragement for her sister. After failing on her first two match points, Venus watched a Dementieva backhand float wide. The call was slow in coming, but when it did, Williams went to the net and waved a hand to the crowd.
She walked to the area near her family and grabbed a large American flag, which she held aloft in her right hand while still clutching her racket in her left, making a short whirl around one side of the court. It was a moment of humility for a champion who is often criticized for having too little.
On the medal podium, her long braids pulled free of the bun she had played in, Williams beamed as she accepted gold and while the national anthem played.
Williams said that in November she altered her mental attitude, deciding to be more aggressive in going after points and that her winning steak stems from that. She said, “I’ve graduated to a different level, to maybe be with some of the greats.”
Yet, Dementieva, ranked 17th in the world, said that Williams has a wonderful power game, but that Hingis is still the better overall player because of her total game.
For the past three days, it had rained pretty steadily, the skies were gray and the air nippy. But this final was played beneath blue skies and sun so strong that attendants had to hold umbrellas over the heads of the competitors during changeovers.
Williams proved too strong in the final, producing 15 winners to five for Dementieva.
