(July 31, 2021)
No. 9 seed Belinda Bencic accomplished a feat that her Swiss compatriots Roger Federer, Martina Hingis or Stan Wawrinka had never done – win an Olympic gold medal in singles on Saturday in Tokyo.
The world No. 12 defeated Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 for the gold and her Olympics are not over yet. Bencic in in the gold medal round of the women’s doubles with Viktorija Golubic and they will face the No. 1 seed Czech team of Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova.
“It’s unbelievable to have two medals, to have one gold and the other still to be decided,” Bencic said. “I will give all the energy that I have left in me.”
Although Wawrinka and Federer won the doubles gold in Beijing in 2008, Federer took home the silver in singles in the 2012 London games when he lost to Andy Murray.
“I think I accomplished it for them,” Bencic said. “They did so much in their careers. I don’t think I will ever be able to accomplish what they did. So it’s for Martina and Roger.”
“I really had a lot of belief in myself.”
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic failed to take home a medal in Tokyo. The Serbian lost to Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta in the bronze medal match 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3. Djokovic lost his semifinal match on Friday to Alexander Zverev losing a bid for the “Golden Slam.” Djokovic has only medaled once at the Olympic games, a bronze in 2008 in Beijing.
Djokovic withdrew from the bronze medal Mixed doubles match giving the bronze to one Ash Barty and John Peers of Australia.
More to follow….
Swiss dreams are made of gold 🥇
@BelindaBencic defeats Marketa Vondrousova 7-5 2-6 6-3 to earn #SUI a third gold medal in tennis after Marc Rosset at Barcelona 1992 and Federer/Wawrinka at Beijing 2008!
#Tokyo2020 | #Tennis | #Olympics
Marketa Vondrousova picks up silver for #CZE following an inspired run to the final 🥈
#Tokyo2020 | #Tennis | #Olympics
Honeymoon well spent for #UKR’s @ElinaSvitolina 🥉
#Tokyo2020 | #Tennis | #Olympics
Originally tweeted by ITF (@ITFTennis) on July 31, 2021.
