By Randy Walker
Serena Williams now has a tennis trophy case that is the envy of all.
The American completed a “Career Golden Grand Slam” by blitzing Maria Sharapova of Russia 6-0, 6-1 Saturday to win the Olympic gold medal in women’s singles on Centre Court at Wimbledon.
The gold medal is the first Olympic medal in singles for Williams to go with her two Olympic golds in doubles with her sister Venus in 2000 and 2008 and her 14 major singles titles across all four Grand Slam tournaments. Steffi Graf is the only other woman to win Olympic gold and all four major singles titles in her career – Graf winning all titles during her historic 1988 season. Williams, however, has also turned a “Career Golden Grand Slam” in doubles as well.
In addition to her newly-achieved Olympic gold medal in singles, the tennis resume of Williams also reads five Wimbledon singles titles, five Australian Open singles titles, three US Open singles titles, one French Open titles. In doubles with sister Venus, she has won five Wimbledon doubles titles, four Australian doubles titles, two French Open doubles titles and two US Open doubles titles.
The victory Saturday for Williams was the most lopsided gold medal match in Olympic history over Sharapova, who was also gunning to add to her career Grand Slam that she just completed in June by winning the French Open. Williams lost only 17 games in six matches en route to winning singles gold, a devastating run only bettered by the mythical Suzanne Lenglen, who won women’s singles gold in 1920 losing only four games en route to the title. Williams lost her serve only one time during her run to singles gold (to Urszula Radwanska of Poland in the second round) and hammered 60 total aces in her six matches.
Against Sharapova, she fired 10 aces, belted 24 winners and committed only seven unforced errors. Williams won the first nine games of the match, leading 6-0, 3-0, before Sharapova was able to notch her only game of the match.
Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, the No. 1 seed in the tournament, won the bronze medal by beating No. 14-seed Maria Kirilenko of Russia 6-3, 6-4. Azarenka will remain as the No. 1 ranked player in the world with Sharapova’s loss to Williams, although it will be difficult to argue that Willliams, ranked No. 4, is not currently the best women’s player on the planet.
The following is how the match played out on Twitter via my Twitter handle “@TennisPublisher”
RT @trippmickle: Scalpers (aka Touts) are in full force outside Wimbledon. One is asking $750+ for 2 tickets to women’s gold medal match (Serena/Sharapova)
@TennisPublisher: Victories, defeats of US Olympians told in “STOLEN DREAMS OF THE 1980 MOSCOW OLYMPIC GAMES” http://www.amazon.com/Boycott-Stolen-Dreams-Moscow-Olympic/dp/0942257405/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343788380&sr=8-1&keywords=boycott+stolen+dreams+of+the+1980+moscow+olympic+games … #Phelps #Gabby #Lochte Bolt
@TennisPublisher: Several fist pumps and a long “COME ON!” scream from Azarenka as she holds for 5-3 in the 2nd set. One game from bronze for the Belarussian
@TennisPublisher: Did Vika Azarenka just win Wimbledon? Or Olympic bronze? You could hardly tell the difference from her post-match reaction, celebration
@TennisPublisher: Azarenka drops her racquet, falls to her knees, covers her eyes, seemingly cries after clinching Olympic bronze. Kisses flag on her shirt
@TennisPublisher: Breakfast at Wimbledon! Now on NBC!…err… wait a minute
@TennisPublisher: “Monster match” says Mary Carillo on NBC, describing Serena vs. Sharapova gold medal match now on NBC
@TennisPublisher: The winner of today’s Serena Williams – Maria Sharapova wins the Career Golden Grand Slam. A match-up of the two most famous female athletes
@TennisPublisher: If Serena and Venus Williams medal in women’s doubles, they will jointly become most decorated US tennis Olympians #London2012@USOlympic
@TennisPublisher: Serena Williams – Maria Sharapova 2005 Aussie Open semifinal is featured in THE GREATEST TENNIS MATCHES OF ALL TIMEhttp://www.amazon.com/The-Greatest-Tennis-Matches-Time/dp/0942257936/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344085820&sr=8-1&keywords=Greatest+tennis+matches+of+all+time …
RT @vblacklabel: Key stat, #Serena hasn’t lost to Sharapova since 2004, has only dropped two sets to her since then #Olympics
@TennisPublisher: Steve Flink rates Sharapova as No 5 women’s return of serve all time in THE GREATEST TENNIS MATCHES OF ALL TIMEhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0942257936?ie=UTF8&tag=newchapre-20&linkCode=shr&camp=213733&creative=393185&creativeASIN=0942257936&qid=1338553261&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1 … #tennis
@TennisPublisher: Serena Williams leaves the court for what Mary Carillo reports on NBC as a second bathroom break. Hope bad health will not affect the match
@TennisPublisher: “I am a little concerned at this point,” says Mary Carillo on Serena Williams and her health as match begins
@TennisPublisher: Three aces and a love hold for Serena Williams.
@TennisPublisher: Serena fires forehand winner, breaks Sharapova at love. 2-0 first set. Eight points to zero for Sharapova.
@TennisPublisher: No golden set for Serena. She hits an unforced forehand error crosscourt. Sharapova wins first point in the first point of third game.
@TennisPublisher: A very rare look at a Maria Sharapova backhand slice on that 30-30 point. Serena hits 5th ace for 3-0 lead.
@TennisPublisher: Steve Flink rates the Serena Williams 1st serve best of all time among women in THE GREATEST TENNIS MATCHES OF ALL TIMEhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0942257936?ie=UTF8&tag=newchapre-20&linkCode=shr&camp=213733&creative=393185&creativeASIN=0942257936&qid=1338553261&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1 …
@TennisPublisher: Serena Williams is playing the role as US Olympic men’s basketball team and Sharapova is Nigeria at the moment…
@TennisPublisher: Chelsea Handler is in the Sharapova box, but Will Ferrell is solidly rooting for Williams, USA “Russia sucks” he jokes.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQzkMoEGDGE …
@TennisPublisher: Dare I tweet this? Last 60 60 Olympic match, Venus Williams (USA) d. Maja Matevzic (SLO), 6-0, 6-0 – 2004 Athens, second round
@TennisPublisher: “This is going by in a hurry,” says Mary Carillo on NBC. Serena belts another ace and holds for 5-0 lead on Sharapova in gold medal match
@TennisPublisher: RT @jon_wertheim Serena has as many aces as Maria has points…
RT @NeilHarmanTimes: Remarkable that Serena lost in the 1st round of the French Open and Maria won the title. Seems a very long time ago
@TennisPublisher: “Maria has to go for her second serve or she feels it will be down her throat” Rennae Stubbs on NBC
@TennisPublisher: “This is dominance at its absolute best,” says Rennae Stubbs on NBC. Williams wins first 6-0.
RT @christophclarey: We’re well past breakfast at #Wimbledon or the #Olympics. But still early enough for a bagel #Serena #London2012
RT @TheRealBallGirl: OLYMPIC BAGEL – Chantel takes the first windy set 6-0. #Olympics
@TennisPublisher: First set took 30 minutes
@TennisPublisher: Seven aces for Serena in the first set. Won 28 points vs. 12 for Sharapova.
@TennisPublisher: Serena holds serve for 1-0 in the second set. When will Sharapova get on the board?
@TennisPublisher: “This is turning into a nightmare for Russian Maria Sharapova” – Rennae Stubbs on NBC. 6-0, 2-0 for Williams in Olympic gold medal tennis
@TennisPublisher: Last 60 60 Olympic match, Venus Williams (USA) d. Maja Matevzic (SLO), 6-0, 6-0 – 2004 Athens, second round
RT @NeilHarmanTimes: I have a distinct feeling Serena will not be satisfied unless she wins love and love
Williams holds at love 6-0, 3-0
RT@TennisNewsTPN RT @NeilHarmanTimes: If I may use a couple of words from@bgtennisnation lexicon, I think Maria is being given a beatdown in the woodshed
RT @BobbyB63: Are more people watching this that the Wimbledon Final on TV? Serena has always liked a big stage.
@TennisPublisher: 40-15 for Sharapova down 0-6, 0-3
@TennisPublisher: Serena Williams misses a rocket forehand return long and Sharapova is on the board. She trails 6-0, 3-1.
@TennisPublisher: This is like being a comedian, telling jokes and no one laughs. This is what it is like for Sharapova at the moment – Rennae Stubbs on NBC
@TennisPublisher: And just like that, break point for Sharapova at 6-0, 3-1.
@TennisPublisher: Serena rips serve, swinging forehand volley to save break point. She’s only be broken once in the tournament. Sharapova now has a 2nd BP
@TennisPublisher: Cross-court backhand winner for Serena to save the second break point. Serena wins two more points, holds for 6-0, 4-1 lead.
@TennisPublisher: 6-0, 5-1 for Serena. National Anthem is being cued….
RT @jon_wertheim 6-0, 5-1 . Scotland Yard has been summoned. Reports of a mauling on Centre Court #sieod
@TennisPublisher: “Maria threw every good shot she could and it just kept coming back” Stubbs on Sharapova throwing kitchen sink at Williams, loses point
@TennisPublisher: Game. Set. Match, Olympic Gold Medal. Career Golden Grand Slam for Serena Williams.
@TennisPublisher: Serena jumps up and down on Centre Court as if she competing in the Olympic trampoline event. She’s the gold medal winner 6-0, 6-1.
@TennisPublisher: “Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh.” Serena Williams to Justin Gimelstob on NBC
@TennisPublisher: “I am just so happy I don’t know what to do,” Serena Williams to Justin Gimelstob on NBC #London2012 #OlympicTennis
RT @BenRothenberg: Great stat. #olympics RT @PhilippJoubert: @BenRothenberg Serena lost as many games whole tournament as fed did in the third set yesterday.
RT @DRossingh @Serenawilliams is now the ONLY player to have won a career golden slam in singles AND doubles. #London2012 #tennis
RT @ChrissieEvert: Congrats to @serenawilliams on winning the GOLD! A terrific display of power and athleticism..a sterling summer for her! @ESPN10s@Olympics
RT @bgtennisnation SW takes Shazza to the woodshed I thought she would put up more of A test then 1 game, SW drops 17 games in 12 sets for easyest gold ever
@TennisPublisher: @bgtennisnation Lenglen lost like four games total in winning women’s singles gold in 1920 in Antwerp. She won three straight matches 60 60!
RT @OlympicsTennis Serena Williams has won the most one-sided women’s singles final in#OlympicTennis history (back to 1896)