Serena Williams demolished Maria Sharapova 6-0, 6-1 en route to winning the Olympic gold medal and securing a career golden slam.

Williams stamped her authority on the competition from the outset and lost just 17 games through the course of the competition. The impressive gold medal match victory leaves her on a 17 match-winning streak since her shocking first round exit at the French Open.

The 63 minute final saw the American drop just one game against Sharapova, and was the most comprehensive Olympic women’s single win.

She joins Germany’s Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi of the United States and Spain’s Rafael Nadal as the only players to have won all four Grand Slams and Olympic gold in singles.

“Oh my gosh, I got the gold. I’ve never played better. Playing against someone like Maria you have to be at your best. I knew that, so it was like I had nothing to lose,” said Williams.

“I never expected gold in singles. I was so happy with my doubles golds [in Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008].

“I thought, ‘If my career’s over I have my gold medal and now I have everything.’

“I have singles, doubles, actually everything there is to win in tennis. Where do I go from here?”

Silver medal winner, Sharapova said: ”Serena played some incredible tennis, with the form she was in during Wimbledon and afterwards.

“With every match she has played she has played great, she has improved and become better, and that showed today.”

Williams teamed up with sister Venus to win the doubles gold medal in a similar fashion, with the pair not dropping a set in the concurrent competition.

She hopes to continue her form into the final part of the season as she attempts to win her 15^th grand slam singles title at the US Open in a few weeks time.

In the bronze medal match, Victoria Azerenka beat Maria Kirilenko to secure her first Olympic medal.

Azerenka went on to win the mixed gold with partner Max Mirnyi leaving her and Williams with two medals each.

Image Courtesy of   Neale Cousland / Shutterstock.com

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Novac Djokovic wins US Open in an unbelievable performance.Djokovic. the Worlds’ number 1 showed no weakness during most of the match against Rafael Nadal. Djokovic’s forehand reigned supreme over Nadal’s signature powerful backhand.In the third set , ‘the King of clay’ Nadal attempted a comeback,but in the end Djokovic outplayed him.

Novac beat the defending champion 6-4;6-2;6-7;(7-3);6-1.Djokovic blasted through the last set 6-1 in just 38 minutes. He slumped to his knees in elation, relief and exhaustion after finally overcoming his great foe, Nadal after 246 mins of spectacular tennis.

Djokovic set the pace in the first three sets, but the brave Nadal found a way to win the third set and stay in the match after breaking Djokovic when he was serving for the match.The effort may have told, however, Nadal unable to repeat his torpedo like shots when it mattered most.

The red-hot Serb triumphed in a four-hour, 10-minute final featuring breathtaking shot-making, rock-solid defence, gruelling rallies as well as warnings for both men for taking too long between points. Nadal, who faced 26 break points and was out-hit in winners with his 32 lagging behind the champion’s 55, said he is determined to eventually overturn his losing run at the hands of Djokovic.

“I’m disappointed to lose, but Novak has been doing unbelievable things. What he has done this year will be impossible to repeat,” said the world No.2.”We pushed our bodies to the limits, I tried to play aggressive but he was making fantastic comebacks. I fought for every ball.”

Djokovic arrived on court sporting a New York fire department baseball cap, a gesture appreciated by the 23,000 crowd, just a day after the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.Despite the tricky, swirling breeze, Nadal was quickly on top, breaking for a 2-0 lead before the Serb hit straight back for 2-1.

Djokovic has won an impressive 64 games in 2011, and lost just two.He now has captured 10 titles this year. This is the Serbians’ third major title this year,the sixth man to ever achieve this fete, and his first US Open title.Nadal defeated him in the final last year . ‘Djoker’ as he is affectionately known is clearly the man to beat this year.

He outplayed Roger Federer in a 5 set semi-final.His ground strokes are as penetrating as Nadal, his serve is more consistent than most of his rivals,and his temperant under pressure is now sound. Djokovic’s shot selection was a highlight today, the variety of his choices kept Nadal guessing, as well as running.

His return of service was also exceptional.He is a champion, master of more than the power game. His razor-sharp, sweeping backhand and killer forehand are difficult to match. He is on a gluten free diet for the past four months, which has definitely improved his agility. If he can maintain his fitness, Novac could become one of the all time greats.

Djokovic received a trophy and USD$1 800 000. Upon receving his prize the champion stated “”It’s an incredible feeling. I’ve had an amazing year. To play Rafa is always a great challenge and I hope we have many more tough matches in the years to come.”

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