PA Media/DPA
Paris
Zheng Qinwen defeated Donna Vekic to become China’s first Olympic tennis singles champion.
Zheng, who reached her first Grand Slam final at the Australian Open earlier this year, ended Iga Swiatek’s three-year unbeaten run at Roland Garros in the semi-finals to guarantee herself a medal.
And, although the final was tighter than the scoreline suggested, Zheng ensured she took top spot on the podium by seeing off Croatian Vekic 6-2, 6-3, with Swiatek having to settle for bronze.
Gold in the men’s doubles went to Australian veterans Matt Ebden and John Peers, who defeated American duo Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-1) (10-8) in an extremely tight final.
Ebden’s Olympics began with a 6-0, 6-1 drubbing in singles by Novak Djokovic after he took up an alternate position despite not having played a match in the format for two years.
Bronze also went to an US pair of Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul, who ended Andy Murray’s career two days ago,