By Erik Gudris | Sunday, August 7, 2016
Serena Williams weathered tough conditions and a tough opponent to win her opening round singles match in Rio.
Photo Credit: ITF Olympic Tennis
Serena Williams started her Olympic singles gold medal defense by enduring tough conditions and a determined opponent to reach the second round at the Summer Games in Rio.
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“Yeah early on it was super windy. It was survival of who could just get the ball in. It wasn’t even really quality tennis. It was just strange tough conditions. But we got through it,” Williams said to NBC just after her win.
Williams faced off against Australia’s Daria Gavrilova in her opening round singles match on the stadium court. Extreme wind conditions along with the feisty play of Gavrilova made things tough for the top seed.
Williams struggled in her opening service game before finally holding serve to start the match. Though Williams earned an early break in the next game, her advantage would not last long.
The World No. 1 tossed in two double faults due to the wind en route to being broken by Gavilova who got back on level terms for 2-all.
Williams threw up a perfect topspin lob winner as she went on to earn another break for 4-2. Yet Gavrilova remained determined not to give up the match so easiliy.
In the next game, fans were treated to an extended rally by both women in which Williams tried to end with several overheads. But Gavrilova got them back before finally winning the point that earned a standing ovation. Gavrilova broke Williams at love to edge closer at 5-4.
Williams responded however by using her trademark power to hit through the slow court and windy conditions. Williams took the set 6-4 with help from a Gavrilova forehand error.
Williams assumed control early in the second set. Gavrilova struck a double fault to hand Williams an early lead. Williams, now feeling more assured on the court with her game, soon stretched her lead to 4-1.
Despite the fight from Gavrilova, the young Australian could do little to halt Williams’ march to victory. Williams fired down an ace and then chased down a Gavrilova drop shot to hit a winner to go up 5-2. Williams roared in approval as the local crowd shouted in unison.
Too many errors from Gavrilova in the last game offered Williams her first match points. Gavrilova saved the first two to put things back at deuce. But Williams would soon earn a third match point. Williams then sealed the 6-4, 6-2 win thanks to a final backhand error from the Australian.
Williams is still scheduled to play doubles with her sister Venus Williams, who is dealing with a viral infection, later in the afternoon. The Williams Sisters are defending gold medalists in doubles from the 2012 London games.