RIO DE JANEIRO, August 14, 2016
Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova overcame Timea Bacsinszky and Martina Hingis 6-4, 6-4 to win gold for Russia in the women’s doubles at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Sunday.
The Russian duo hit 36 winners to seal victory in one hour and 38 minutes.
“We wanted the Olympic medal, especially gold medal of course, since we were juniors,” said Makarova. “It was our dream from the kids. We really wanted to have a medal of Olympics.
“It’s much more for us than the Grand Slam. We were all the time talking about that, that Grand Slams are great tournaments, we’re so happy that we won two Grand Slams, but the Olympic Games for us means much more. We are playing for our country. We won the gold medal. It’s an amazing feeling. Our dream came true.”
Vesnina added: “We had a tough trip to make it here to Rio. We were really in stress in one moment when we missed our connection. We were trying to get here as early as we could because we played final in Montreal, we won the tournament there. We knew it’s different courts, different balls. We wanted to get here as early as we could just to get ready.
“I think this situation even help us a little bit, you know, to be ready for everything in Rio. We stick together. We knew why we came here. We knew what we want. It’s incredible that we won this gold medal at the end.”
Martina Hingis said: “We’re there together to fight through thick and thin. It doesn’t matter. I mean, we’re one team, we’re one ‘equipe’. We made it on the court this far. I think we were very emotional in general.
“If it doesn’t touch you at the Olympic Games, where does it want to touch you? I think this is the moment we can let go all the stress after this week. It’s done and over. All the happiness and emotions come through to you. I think that’s only human. That’s who we are. We’re proud of that, as well.”
Mixed Competition Concludes
In an all-US-American mixed final Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jack Sock fought past Venus Williams and Rajeev Ram, winning 6-7, 6-1, 10-7 in one hour and 45 minutes.
Lucie Hradecka and Radek Stepanek clinched the Bronze medal with 6-1, 7-5 victory over Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna in 71 minutes.
“I can compare this with the Davis Cup Finals, where we were a couple of years ago because I think the nicest, deepest and strongest emotions you can only achieve when you play for your country. I would recommend everyone to at least go through it once. It is something amazingly special. This medal belongs to our whole country. I’m slowly losing my words because I am slowly starting to realise what we have achieved and maybe at the end of the mixed zone I am going to cry,” Stepanek told.
Hradecka added on getting over doubles disappointment to win mixed bronze:
“Yesterday I was so disappointed but I had a good night and slept well last night and this morning woke up with the full energy. We did everything to get the medal and we did and I am so, so happy.”
