Alexander Zverev and Belinda Bencic achieved their greatest triumphs in the last few days as they won the men’s and women’s singles gold, respectively, at the Tokyo Olympics. The two 24-year-old’s were not favorites heading into the tournament but soldiered through several adversities to win their respective competitions.
Zverev defeated Russia’s Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-1 in the finals on Sunday to win the men’s singles gold, while Bencic defeated Czech Republic’s Marketa Vondrousova to win her first medal at the Olympics.
Zverev fought valiantly and overcame top seed Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the competition, and entered the final as the favorite. The German-made light work of Khachanov in the finals of the competition.
An emotional Zverev was over the moon after winning gold on Sunday. “There is nothing better than this. You are not only playing for yourself, you are playing for your country, and the Olympics are the biggest sporting event in the world. The feeling I have now and will have, nothing will be better,” said Zverev.
Djokovic, meanwhile, lost the bronze medal match as well, losing to Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta.
The women’s final was a lot closer as Bencic had to work hard against Vondrousova with the match going to the third set. Bencic won the match 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 to seal the women’s gold. Bencic dedicated her win at the Olympics to the greatest Swiss tennis player, Roger Federer.
“Yes, he wrote to me today. He said this was the perfect day to reach my dreams, and I was really happy about that. And he was absolutely right. He is incredible in that way, he really supports all the Swiss players. He is behind us and it’s just incredible the type of support I receive from Roger Federer, so this win is also for him,” said Bencic.
The Swiss player also reached the final of the women’s doubles when she teamed up with Viktorija Golubic, but the duo lost to Czech pair Barbora Krejčíková and Katerina Siniakova. The bronze went to Brazil’s Laura Pigossi and Luisa Stefani.
Over in the men’s doubles final, it was an all Croatian affair as Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic faced Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig. Mektic and Pavic won the gold against their compatriots in a closely fought match which ended 6-4, 3-6, 10-6.
The athletes of the Russian Olympic Committee ended the tennis events at Olympics with the most medals (3) after winning gold and silver in the mixed doubles events. Croatia, Czech Republic, and Switzerland finished with two medals apiece.
