Nothing gold can stay.
That’s about as apt (if not blunt as hell) a metaphor as you can get to describe the Williams Sisters Olympic campaign, which as of this morning is officially over.
After struggling through the opening round of singles competition, severe questions had been raised as to whether or not a severely ill Serena Williams would even be able to take the court with sister Venus to defend their Olympic crown.
However Serena, who had been suffering from dehydration, cramping, and nausea prior to arriving in Brazil, gamely fronted up this morning to face Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic.
In what’s undoubtedly one of the biggest upsets in Olympic tennis history, it was the Czech duo who emerged victorious, facing little resistance as the sisters capitulated in straight sets, 6-3 6-4.
The loss marks the first time the sisters have been beaten in Olympic doubles play, having previously won gold at every games they’ve competed in: Sydney 2000, Beijing 2008, and London 2012.
Serena still has a second-round singles match coming, with the ailing star facing France’s Alize Cornet tomorrow.
Venus, however, crashed out in the first round of singles play, losing to Kristen Flipkens of Belgium in a tight three-set encounter.
Photo: Rob Carr/Getty.
