Olympic Gallery: From Great To Greater...
Published August 04, 2012 12:00
Finals Day at the Olympics began with Victoria Azarenka beating Maria Kirilenko for the bronze medal.
Victoria Azarenka recorded a 63 64 win, her third straight set win in a row against Maria Kirilenko.
Victoria Azarenka's bronze medal in singles was the first tennis medal ever for her country of Belarus.
Then the big one, Maria Sharapova taking on Serena Williams on Centre Court in the gold medal match.
Serena Williams had won the pair's last seven meetings in a row, and the last two by a 61 63 scoreline.
Both women had won all four majors at least once and were on the verge of a Career Golden Grand Slam.
But when she's in full flight, Serena Williams can become a bit unstoppable. And she was in full flight...
Maria Sharapova managed 6 winners but had 10 unforced errors. Serena Williams 24 winners to 7 unforced.
Serena Williams hit back-to-back aces on the last two points to close out a 63-minute, 60 61 victory.
Serena Williams has now won 34 of her last 35 matches and 13 straight matches against Top 5 players.
Serena Williams won her 44th WTA title, passing Venus Williams for most WTA titles among active players.
Serena Williams, who busted a move on court afterwards, also completed the very rare Career Golden Grand Slam.
Victoria Azarenka, who will remain No.1 in the world, beamed while she was given her bronze medal.
Though she was disappointed with the loss, Maria Sharapova was all class at the ceremony, as always.
Maria Sharapova was playing in her very first Olympics and will now rise back to No.2 in the world.
Serena Williams is the second woman to get the Career Golden Grand Slam, after Germany's Steffi Graf.
Only two men have completed the Career Golden Grand Slam, too - Andre Agassi and Rafael Nadal...
Though Roger Federer has a shot to join the club, too. Graf, Agassi, Nadal, Williams... Federer?
Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka held up their new bling at the medal ceremony.
The women's doubles and mixed doubles finals of the Olympic Tennis Event will take place on Sunday.
Topics: tournaments, news, photos or videos, serena williams, maria sharapova, victoria azarenka, olympics, 2012
