Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova for Russia and Martina Hingis and Timea Bacsinszky for Switzerland faced off in the gold medal match in the tennis women's doubles event. It was a battle of experience against the relatively new Swiss pairing who were forced to pair up after Hingis' original partner withdrew. It turned out to work for them as they see themselves in the finals competing for gold medal glory.
The Russians started better of the two and even though the Swiss pair had chances they could not capitalize and one break of serve was enough for the Russians to claim the first set. It was a much tighter second set but once again the Swiss rue their opportunities as the Russians earn a late break to emerge victorious with a 6-4, 6-4 win.
The lone break makes the difference
The Swiss were immediately put under pressure at the start of the match. However, Hingis and Bacsinszky hung on well, defending three break points to get on the scoreboard. After a couple of comfortable holds, the Russian serve was then tested with some great tennis at the net by the Swiss pair. It earned them their first break point of the match. They failed to capitalize though and as another chance went begging the Russians held their nerve to stay on serve for 2-2.
The breakthrough eventually came in the seventh game, going the way of the Russian duo. Hingis struggled to get first serves in and the Swiss pair’s errors soon gave Makarova and Vesnina triple break points. With Hingis and Vesnina trading shots at the baseline, Makarova tried to sneak in at the net but just failed as the first chance was saved. However, Hingis then fired her forehand long to hand Russians the break and a 4-3 lead.
Serving to extend their lead, the Russians had to work hard with the Swiss looking to find the immediate break back. Makarova and Vesnina were up to the task, though, saving a break point in the process before Vesnina struck a clean backhand right down the middle of the court to earn a 5-3 advantage.
The Russians were in full swing now, creating a double set point on the Swiss pair’s service game. Hingis came to their rescue both times with some excellent skills at the net as the Swiss hung on for 4-5. On set point, Bacsinszky challenged a second serve that was called in and was made to pay the price as it was rightfully in and the point went to the Russians giving them the first set 6-4.
Tighter set but Russians prevail with a late break
It was a much closer contest in the second set with both sets of players easing through their service games. The Swiss pair got off to a good start and kept it going and the Russian duo followed suit.
Things changed in the sixth game though with Hingis working her magic to earn double break points for her team. Vesnina rifled her shot past Hingis before a big serve then leveled the game to deuce. Bacsinszky set up another break point with a fiery return down the line and again the Russian saved it showing great hands at the net. Makarova and Vesnina eventually dug out an important hold to draw level at 3-3. And the next couple of games saw easy holds for both teams.
Cruising 40-15 in the ninth game, the Swiss then found themselves under some pressure as they were pegged back to deuce. The Russian duo kicked up a gear and set up break point leaving the Swiss to scramble. In their first real test of the second set, Hingis and Bacsinszky could not hang on and the Russians broke for a crucial 5-4 lead.
With Vesnina serving and Makarova guarding the net with authority, they set up triple gold medal points. And a huge serve sealed the deal as the Russians claim the gold medal.