DJOKAVIC PRAISE
It was a rollercoaster tournament for Zheng, who needed back-to-back three-hour matches to defeat Navarro and then former world number one Angelique Kerber.
In both matches, she had to claw back deficits while against Navarro she even found her reputation under attack when the American described her as “cut-throat” with “no respect”.
However, her run to the final created one fan in the shape of Novak Djokovic.
“She’s a terrific person. I really like her a lot,” said the Serbian star on the eve of the gold medal match.
“(Getting to the final) is a huge deal for China, for her, but also for our sport. China is such a huge country, a huge market, and they’ve been waiting for a big champion and a big name since Li Na.”
Australia’s Matthew Ebden and John Peers won the men’s doubles gold with a thrilling victory over Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram of the United States.
The unseeded pair came back from a set and break down to win 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/1), 10-8 against their fourth-seeded opponents.
It was Australia’s second Olympic men’s doubles title after Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde triumphed in Atlanta in 1996.
For Peers, it was a second Games medal to go with the bronze he claimed alongside Ashleigh Barty in the mixed doubles in Tokyo three years ago.
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