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.
“Nothing can describe my feelings right now,” Zheng said on court before the medals ceremony.
“It’s unreal, I was hoping to get a medal for China and I made it, I got the gold. I did everything I could.
“I fought every single match, I feel like I had special energy and lots of support. My country will be proud and my family who I know will be screaming at home by the TV.”
Poland’s Iga Swiatek finished with the bronze medal after beating Slovakia’s Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6-2 6-1 on Friday.
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 (8-6) 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.
“Last night, I was actually dreaming of an Instagram post: how it started, and how it’s going,” said the 36-year-old.
“I was thinking of my score eight days ago, winning one game. And then I was thinking ‘swipe right’ and there’s a gold medal photo. Maybe I’ll have to make that post at some point.
“I’m super happy to get the reward because you don’t always get the reward for your hard work, but when you do it’s pretty sweet.”
Bronze also went to an American pair with Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul, who ended Andy Murray’s career two days ago, defeating mixed doubles gold medallist Tomas Machac and Adam Pavlasek of the Czech Republic 6-3 6-4.
What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Find out all the ways to watch tennis on Sky Sports, including the US Open, ATP and WTA tours
In the run-up to the final Grand Slam of 2024 – the US Open – you can watch all of the biggest tennis stars in action live on Sky Sports as they compete across the hard-court season.
- National Bank Open, Montreal (ATP 1000) – 6-12 August
- National Bank Open, Toronto (WTA 1000) – 6-12 August
- Cincinnati Open (ATP 1000) – 12-19 August
- Cincinnati Open (WTA 1000) – 13-19 August
- Winston-Salem Open (ATP 250) – 18-24 August
- Tennis in the Land, Cleveland (WTA 250) – 18-24 August
- Abierto GNP Seguros, Monterrey (WTA 500) – 19-24 August
- US Open (ATP/WTA) – 26 August – 8 September
Watch the WTA and ATP Tours throughout 2024 on Sky Sports Tennis. Stream Sky Sports Tennis and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.