American Venus Williams put a golden finish on a dream season on Wednesday by sweeping past 10th-seeded Elena Dementieva of Russia to win the Olympic gold medal in women's tennis. Second-seeded Williams defeated the 18-year-old Russian 6-2 6-4 to extend her winning streak to 32 successive match victories. With her mother Oracene and sisters Serena and Lyndrea looking on in the stands, Williams was handed a large American flag and waved it to the cheering crowd at the Olympic Park Tennis Centre.
Winning Olympic gold gave Williams her sixth successive tournament victory -- a stretch that includes grand slam triumphs at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. "I've worked so hard for this," said Williams, who beat Arantxa Sanchez Vicario of Spain and team mate Monica Seles on her way to the final. "It's unbelievable." Williams, who is also chasing gold in women's doubles with Serena, has avoided the Olympic hoopla during her Sydney stay, but the 20-year-old American lit up with joy at her golden victory and wiped a tear from her eye during the playing of the anthem.
"I felt really emotional. It was very exciting. I remember watching the Olympics at home as a kid. It was one of the dreams of my Dad to win an Olympic medal," said Williams, who is coached by her father Richard. The bronze medal went to Seles, who defeated 17-year-old Australian Jelena Dokic 6-1 6-4 on Tuesday.
The men's gold will be determined on Thursday when fifth-seeded Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia plays Germany's Tommy Haas in the final. Arnaud Di Pasquale of France won the men's bronze medal on Wednesday, defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (7-9) 6-3.
REUTERS
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
