We salute the champions of the 2012 London Olympic tennis tournament…

Despite some rain delay challenges, the 2012 London Olympic tennis tournament, which took place on the grass courts at Wimbledon, ended yesterday and it was definitely a memorable and record-setting finish.  In the Men’s Singles final, Andy Murray “managed the moment” and thrilled the “hometown crowd” with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 defeat of Roger Federer for the Gold Medal.  In the third place match, 2009 U.S. Open champion, Juan Martin del Potro, defeated Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-4 to win the Bronze Medal for Argentina.  In Women’s Singles, Serena Williams followed up her victory at Wimbledon a month ago with a Gold Medal and completed a “career golden slam” in singles by beating Maria Sharapova 6-0, 6-1 in the final and now leads their “rivalry” 9-2.  In the third place match, current World Number One, Victoria Azarenka defeated Russian, Maria Kirilenko 6-3, 6-4 to win the Bronze Medal for Belarus.

In Men’s Doubles, Bob and Mike Bryan defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Michael Llodra of France 6-4, 7-6 (2) to win their first Gold Medal and completed a “career golden slam”.  In the third place match, Frenchmen, Richard Gasquet and Julien Benneteau, playing in their first Olympics beat Spaniards, David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (4), 6-2 to win the Bronze Medal.  In Women’s Doubles, Venus Williams and Serena Williams won their third doubles Gold Medal by defeating Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-4  under a closed Centre Court roof.  The doubles victory was history-making for both Venus and Serena, who became the first tennis players, male or female, to win four Olympic Gold Medals and Serena is the first player to win a “career golden slam” in singles and doubles.  In the third place match, Russians, Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova beat Americans, Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 to win the Bronze Medal.  Mixed Doubles returned to the Olympics for the first time since 1924 and there were a number of exciting match-ups.  British favorites, Andy Murray and Laura Robson, took home Silver Medals after losing to Max Mirnyi and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the Gold Medal match 3-6 6-3 10-8.  In the third place match, Mike Bryan and Lisa Raymond won Bronze for the United States by defeating Sabine Lisicki and Christopher Kas of Germany 6-3 4-6 10-4.

Eight different countries are represented in the list of medalists below and the United States won the most medals, i.e. four, of any country in the tennis event at the 2012 London Olympics.

MEDAL COUNT
Women’s Singles – Gold Medal: Serena Williams (United States); Silver Medal Maria Sharapova (Russia); Bronze Medal Victoria Azarenka (Belarus)
Men’s Singles – Gold Medal: Andy Murray (Great Britain); Silver Medal Roger Federer (Switzerland); Bronze Medal Juan Martin del Potro (Argentina)
Women’s Doubles – Gold Medal: Venus Williams and Serena Williams (United States); Silver Medal Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka (Czech Republic); Bronze Medal Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova (Russia)
Men’s Doubles - Gold Medal: Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan (United States); Silver Medal Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Michael Llodra (France); Bronze Medal Richard Gasquet and Julien Benneteau (France)
Mixed Doubles – Gold Medal: Victoria Azarenka and Max Mirnyi (Belarus); Silver Medal Laura Robson and Andy Murray (Great Britain); Bronze Medal Mike Bryan and Lisa Raymond (United States)