Federer won the gold teaming up with fellow countryman Stanislas Warinka in the men's doubles tournament beating the Sweedish pair of Simon Aspelin and Thomas Johansson 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-3.
For Federer the victory was a moment to savor in a frustrating year. He lost in the quarterfinals of Olympic singles, his Grand Slam total has been stalled at 12 since last September, and his 41/2-year reign atop the rankings will end Monday when Rafael Nadal becomes No. 1.
But he’s now a medalist for the first time in his three Olympics. It must have been a big relief for the man who was untouchable at the top of the world for so many years. And I hope it is a sign for better things to come for Federer.
In the men's singles finals, Rafael Nadal will be up against Chilean Fernando Gonzales, the bronze medalist four years ago in Athens for his first Olympic glory. While Dinara Safina and Elena Dementieva will play for a gold medal in an all-Russian women's singles final. Dementieva beat a third Russian semifinalist, Vera Zvonareva, 6-3, 7-6 (3), and five minutes later on an adjacent court, Safina defeated Li Na of China 7-6 (3), 7-5.
In the women's doubles finals, Venus and Serena Williams will play Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain. The Williams sisters won the gold eight years ago in Sydney, but sat out of the game four years later in Athens due to an injury to Serena. They are back and raring for another gold to add to their collections.
The golden smiles
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