Sunday 16th August
Nihau from the Olympic Green Tennis Centre on tennis finals day.
I can’t believe I managed to get 2 tickets. Took a chance on calling ticket operators Sportsworld and got lucky!
Today’s ticket cost 600 yuan (about £45) but during the week a ground pass cost 50 yuan (about £4) and that got u into all courts except centre. Beijing has been calling this Olympics "The Peoples Games" and judging by the cost of tickets at each venue (£2 - £5) and the free bus and metro transport when you flash your Games ticket, they have done a great job in making the events as accessible and affordable as possible to the Chinese. I hope London can do the same in 2012.
Russia have taken gold, silver and bronze in the women’s singles. Dementieva managed to hold her nerve and her serve to beat Safina in three sets while Zvonereva broke Chinese hearts when she swept past Li Na in the 3rd/4th play off.
The centre court was virtually empty for the first two sets of the women’s final as the bulk of the mainly Chinese crowd opted to support Li Na on court 1.
Both Safina and Dementieva are coached and supported on the Tour by their mothers and Dementieva frequently remonstrated with hers during the match. Mum Vera was given a warning for coaching during the quarter final match vs Wozniacki but managed to keep schtum today.
Rafa was too good for Gonzo in the men’s final although he had to save 2 set points in the second. He really is an awesome competitor and athlete and fully deserves both the Olympic title and the world No. 1 ranking tomorrow!
Federer and Wawrinka took men’s doubles gold for Switzerland, I’ve never seen Fed looking so happy and in his press interview afterwards he said how wonderful it was to be able to celebrate a gold medal with a team mate. Most times he is all alone on the court and nobody to hug!
The Williams sisters won women’s doubles gold. They were staying in same hotel as me, with the rest of the USA tennis team. Interesting that everyone in their team had played 2 Olympics before - Blake, Davenport, Huber, Bryans - and all knew the pitfalls of staying in the Village and the importance of keeping their preparations as close to a normal Tour week!
You live and learn!